New Year's Resolutions

I just love the idea of New Years Resolutions... I really would love it if we 'revisited' the idea, maybe each month!! I can't even remember what I resolved to do last year! I know in the past, I would resolve to lose weight or cook healthier meals or sign up for some enrichment classes of some kind. This year however, I am going to make it simple...

1. Lose 20 lbs.
That's less than 2 lbs a month, I lost 10 last year and kept it off. (fluke) I think I will try 20 this year and maybe 20 next... Baby steps for something that seems to be so hard for me!

2. Sunday Dinner & Devotions
During Advent we started a new family tradition of "Christmas Around the World". I have an Advent wreath that I use as my table centerpiece all through the Christmas season. Each Sunday in Advent I planned and prepared a meal from another country, except for one, they were each from countries that either Jim or I have heritage. This was a way to teach Chris about where his ancestors come from and share family stories. I also planned a small devotion in line with the meaning of the Advent candle to be lit each week. While dinner was in the oven, we would sit at our table, Chris got to light the candles and we would spend time in devotion and prayer. We enjoyed this so much we want to continue it throughout the year.

3. Get a job
NO WAY!!! Well you all know me... not a real one. For me, my family is where I want to spend my time but Chris is going to start private school in the fall. I would love to contribute enough to cover his tuition. So I am going to start quilting small quilts. I have an idea for personalized baby quilts and puppy beds! (more on this later!) I also have a short term day care job coming in a few weeks for a neighbor!!

4. Have Faith by giving up Hope..
Well, I'm not giving up hope exactly. Hope is here. Meaning that God has given me hope and blessings in abundance. I refrain from bragging, but I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I have enough. I wanted us to have a daughter, I wanted Chris to have a sibling... God had other plans...

However, He did place this burden in my heart. A deep desire to have more children, even after all I've endured and a deep compassion for the welfare of children in need. I believe He has given me the job to help at least one child, not for us, but for that child. I will not rest completely until I have fulfilled that purpose. I'm not sure if it's to adopt or to just do what I can to make a change in the system in our country. I'm hoping it will be both. But I can't continue to live my life expecting to travel to China, but I have to have faith that God has a plan and hopefully I will be quiet enough to hear what it is...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

21 Months...

12 years ago...

at 8:57 p.m. I became a mother. The begining of the most precious time in my life. How much he has grown. How much he has changed me...

Happy Birthday Christopher, I love you.

Finding Joy

Nikki, this is my reply to your comment:

After7 years of infertility treatment our decision to adopt was incredibly healing and filled me with a completeness I hadn't felt for many years . But now the delay of our adoption has been overwhelmingly heartbreaking and has left me deeply wounded.

I have been hiding... by living my life, being 'happy' with what I have.

God has given me an abundance of blessings, family and friends who love God and who love me. In them and in Him I have found my refuge.

Focusing on them has allowed me to heal and enjoy the Christmas season.

So I have been hiding, by Finding Joy instead of Waiting for Hope.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving & 20 Months

I'm Back...

...from vacation that is. Our vacation was just what the doctor ordered. I am hesitant to dive back into reality, but here's my 2 cents on referrals.

I felt that this last batch of 8 days was better of course than the 5 day that we had in October in number of days and poll families matched, but not really back to 'normal'.

While I was away my adoption agency sent out it's usual notice that referrals had gone out as well as another note warning us about visiting rumor sites. I realize that there are people who can get caught up in the RUMORS but I have believe that Rumor Queen is the best source we have to finding the FACTS. Below are the last 6 months of referrals based on RQ's polls, showing the number of days and the number of poll families matched.



Using the number of families matched is a much better way to estimate what will happen next... of course in this ever changing environment this is of course shaky on a long term basis. So here's what I'm thinking for next month.



I will be happy with 10 days but not surprised with 7 days,of course the header for 5 days speaks for itself!

Stuff I Bought Recently...

Let Me Try Again... Some Hopefulness

Soooooo..... my theory on how far the CCAA would get this month seems to have been blown out of the water due to end of the year ceiling and possibly a large amount of expedited referrals.

I now know that the end of the Chinese fiscal year is November 30th, I can't make any guesses on what will happen for the next two referral sets, assuming that the December 1st batch will reflect the 'end of the year'.

I was coming up with guesses based on poll information but now we know that SN and Expedited referrals have priority and we can't predict how many poll families will be matched either.

So I just wanted to share with you some numbers I came up with that might give everyone a boost.

LID days per batch averages:

• The current overall (22 months) - 10.45


• The last 12 months - 9.42


• The last 6 months - 5.83 (ugh)


• Overall before processing Oct. 05 - 12.76


• Overall before processing Nov 05 - 11.86

So the million dollar question? Is this slow down due to the large nature of November, SN turn over, expedited families and the end of the year ceiling, OR is it just the new norm??

I'm still glass is half full... I'm thinking once we start the new fiscal year, things are going to start to get back to the way they were before they began processing November... 12 day averages, at least until they start referring March, then I don't know what they will do.

In this case I still won't see a referral before the end of the school year, but I am hoping before September.

My 2 cents.

Lisa, Luna, L&J

Great news everyone!

Tonight, Lisa, from Our Journey to Ava, switched from being my "Cyber Friend" to my "Real Life Friend"!

After trading many PM's over at RQ we decided it would be sooooo much easier to just call each other! We made a date for 7pm and 2 hours and 34 minutes later my minutes ran out on my calling card!!

It was so great to talk to someone who is in the same car of the roller coaster! (even if she is in the front and I'm in the back!)

At the end of our 2.5 hour conversation I thanked her for the 'therapy' and that I was feeling so much better! I love how this community of adoptive mom's have all supported each other! It truly is amazing!

If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be making friends on the Internet I would have told them that they were crazy. Look what I would have missed out on! I can't wait to meet her in person!

Pie In The Face

Dear Family and Friends... It looks like referrals are in and the cut off was only November 30th.

If we are using poll numbers this is one of the smallest months ever... 68 families as opposed to the average of about 127 they have been doing in recent months.

Am I upset????

Hmmm.... oddly I feel a strange calm. I even baked this beautiful pie today.

Those of you who know me in real life know that I have been going through an exceptionally needy time ever since school started and that I hate being the 'victim' type...

But today of all days, I am feeling calm. I'm not exactly sure of the reason but I think it is a combination of the amazing outpouring of support from my family, friends and fellow bloggers, the cold calls I have been making to adoption agencies 'just to see what they have to say' and they are telling me to 'sit tight' or the new Bible study I started three weeks ago on Daniel which is really strengthening my relationship with God and helping me to focus on the here and now.

So thank you to everyone in my real life: The Perfect Nerd, Chris, Mom, Janis, Judy, Kim, Amiee and Tracy.

And my bloggy friends Lisa, Kelly, Nikki, K1, Kimberly, Kris, Sophia's Mom, Amy and anyone who actually comments here!

You all have kept me from losing my mind!
________________________________________________________

There is one other thing.... I have a theory...

If anyone knows when the fiscal year ends in China, please let me know. I've asked at RQ and no one replied. I'm thinking it's November. Also, there is some speculation that some of the CCAA workers are matching families with January LID's. This would mean that those workers have already matched their December families right?

If I'm right, and if there is a quota in place only allowing out so many babies per year then the CCAA might be at the end of their quota. They have plenty of babies to match (and of course plenty of families) but they can only match so many before the end of the year.

So instead of matching them all now and skipping next month, they split them up and matched some now and will match the rest of their quota in November.

The good news would be, (if my theory is correct) that the December and early 2008 batches could be quite a bit larger due to being able to 'start over' with their quota.

What do you all think???

And seriously... doesn't that pie look amazing??? I don't want anyone to eat it! I just want to look at it!!

Is pride a bad thing???

18 Months Down...

(Click on chart for better viewing)

Only 117 LID days until they reach our LID day. This chart shows the past 21 months of history. The overall monthly average is 11 days per cycle. 117/11=10.6

I think we are finally less than a year away from referral it only took us 18 months to get here...

We should be seeing referrals come out sometime next week. I am praying that they match at least through December 5th. This would be 10 days and in keeping with poll numbers. If they do less, then there is something severely wrong.

If they do more, it will be a miracle.

I have seen miracles this week... now praying for one of my own. Pray for the babies health and wellbeing, the families courage and strength, the orphanage directors, the CCAA workers and the Chinese Government.

Didn't Get Lost!!!

Actually the trip downtown was straightforward, with directions typed up by The Perfect Nerd, I got there in record time, and didn't miss any turn-offs!!

Our appointment was at 3pm so TPN just met me there, minutes from his work. There was almost no one waiting so it want very quickly, unlike our last visit!

The Detroit 'Assistance Center' (I think that's what they called it) is actually in a strip mall! We found that quite unusual, especially since there is a Chinese Restaurant called the Lucky Dragon very close to where you get fingerprinting. Our last visit was at 8:30 am so we didn't get to visit the Lucky Dragon, but today we stopped in for a very quick spring roll and fortune cookies...

My Chinese word: Birthday
Jim's fortune: Things are turning for the bright side.

Jim's Chinese word: Vegetable
My Fortune: All the world will not love a lover but they will all be watching him.

I burst into tears at my Chinese word, laughed when Jim read his, loved his fortune, but didn't understand mine until I spoke to my friend Edie. She immediately said, "That's Jesus!" Bless her heart, I wasn't paying attention... I love my fortune now!

Everyone please pray for Edie. The doctors have found a spot on her pancreas that looks to be pre-cancerous or cancerous. She is being scoped in just over a week.

Fingerprint Alert!

Going to The Big City to get our fingerprints re-done today!! Wish me luck down there... I'm only a little scared I will get lost!!

More On Ivy

I got a couple questions about the latest AG doll so I thought I would post on them today and expound on my passion for these dolls!

Truly Blessed said...
Is Ivy a different Asian doll than the one AG has had for a few years? I don't know if the older one has ever had a name, but I'm glad that this new one does, and has a story to go along with it.

Truly Blessed - Ivy looks the same as the Asian "Just Like Me" doll but with shorter hair. There is an Asian "Just Like Me" doll that has current day dress, you can name her yourself. AG offers about 20 or so different skin, eye and hair colors for this doll. The Historical dolls are all named and come with books and dress for their time period. Ivy is the first historical AG doll, she looks very much like the JLM doll with the exception of shorted hair.

AG offers hundreds of outfits in all the historical periods including current day. All outfits fit on any doll you purchase, with the exception of Bitty Baby, which is their second line of dolls and clothing geared toward Preschoolers. So if a girl already has an AG doll she could purchase the New Year Outfit separately! Don't need more than one doll to enjoy all the outfits and accessories; historical or current day!

The fact that AG has come out with an Asian American Historical Doll, is significant in that she is an actual character. She has a story. There will eventually be a movie. She has come to life. The only negative I find here is that they made her the friend of Julie the "70's Historical Doll not the main doll for the period.

redmaryjanes said...
She's beautiful! I know that they are pretty expensive...how can I get it past the hubs???

Well... I have to say I am enamored with the concept of this company, the doll quality and the educational aspect of them, not to mention the marketing genius behind these dolls! I was a real doll lover as a girl, so 15 years ago when a catalog showed up at my home I was hooked. It would be 10 years, many of them filled with infertility and yearning for a daughter before I would buy one for myself, but I did save that catalog and poured over it from time to time saying that when I had a daughter I would be buying one for her.

The price tag can be daunting at $87 for a doll with a paperback book or $102 for one with a hardback, but after the initial cost of the doll, the outfits range from $20-$32, with most of them falling in the $26 range. As a seamstress and a doll lover the outfits absolutely intrigue me. The quality is stellar. The designs and variety are not to be found anywhere else. They always include more than a dress or top and pants. They are a complete outfit with matching shoes and accessories.

I always tell people, once you get over the initial sticker shock of the doll purchase then the outfits can be purchased in the future for gifts or special occasions. I know one little girl that saves her allowance and buys her own outfits!!

As far as getting it past your hubby... I don't recommend 'sneaking' I'm all for 'convincing'. When I was purchasing "Ivy's New Year Outfit" last night on line my hubby came in. I made a joke saying. "Oh, don't come in yet, I'm making an on line purchase!" When I told him what it was he said, "Oh! When you're done don't log off I want to see it!"

Convincing, brainwashing... call it what you want, he sees it as something I NEED, just like he NEEDS new cycling stuff.

New Asian Doll from American Girl

Check her out!!! IVY new from American Girl! (click here)

She is the friend of the latest Historical Doll from the 70's Julie

For Julie Albright, life after her parents’ divorce holds as many ups and downs as the hilly streets of San Francisco. Julie misses her old bedroom, her pet rabbit, her best friend, Ivy—and most of all, having her whole family together.
But Julie begins to see that change also brings new possibilities. By taking charge of her new life, she learns to believe in herself—and that love can hold a family together even when they live apart.

Sorry too busy to check more, not sure what ethnicity Ivy is but can't wait to see more! She's soooooo cute!!

Babies

This is for all my friends and family that are not in the adoption forums. Janis - this one's for you and Elizabeth!

Everyone say, "HI! JANIS!"

She just learned how to post a comment! I am VERY proud of her... not everyone is as computer literate as all of us crazy bloggers!

Click on each link below to see the newly referred BABIES that their parents had to wait 22 months to see, and they were nice enough to share their pictures for all of us still in line. This will give you an idea of what Hope's referral will look like! As you can see, all shapes and sizes and hair-do's!

Our Journey to Alice
A Mother's Joyful Heart
Rocking Chairs and Tricycle
A Day in the Life
A Red Thread to China
Okie Angel
Journey to Sarah
Journey to Mya
Our Whole World in His Hands - This one has a video
Chasing Kayla
Journey to Lily Ann
Pelton Adoption
Going for Gracie
Our Sweet Melissa
Meet the Hintons
Afraine
Kenli's Korner
Our Baby Madeline
Ellie Ni Bao

A couple you don't have the pictures right on top. Either scroll down or click on the word "REFERRAL" somewhere on their page...

Why I Thought 4 Days Was - Okay...

This is a visual of how I got the idea that the 4 day batch wasn't horrid. The numbers next to each LID date are the number of families logged in for that day. I took this straight from RQ's current poll.

The purple are the actual last 4 months and the pink are my prediction based on the numbers. Of course these are just my guesses... This also looks like the rumor about all of December in December could happen. Basically January 2nd referrals (if they keep coming in the first week of the month) would finish December and start January...

(Click on chart for a better view)

Now of course I am praying that at some point they pick up the 'current pace' and that I am all wrong, but for now this seems logical.

Keeping my HOPE's and HEART in check...

CCAA Has Spoken...4 Day

I was on my way to bed, but my computer lured me! I just happened to check the CCAA website!

Well, here we have it... September referral mystery solved. Congrats to all the November families getting their referrals. This will be an exciting time.

I think I'll go play with some spreadsheets...

Update: I changed this whole update from this morning. I goofed on my adding up the matched families... not enough coffee. It is even more optomistic than I realized!

Every month referrals come out and the numbers seem low it can be very depressing. Especially this 4 day batch. Yet this batch is not bad.

Most of us look at "How Many Days" were matched. If we instead look at the last few referral batches in "Number of Familes" * matched goes like this:

June - 6 days - 114 families
July - 7 days - 138 families
Aug - 7 days - 120 families
Sep - 4 days - 136 families (not 106 like I had this morning!)

So what will next month look like? According to the polls the number of families logged in are as follows.

11/26 - 1
11/27 - 0
11/28 - 30
11/29 - 3
11/30 - 34
12/1 - 1
12/2 - 0
12/3 - 1

12/4 - 3

12/5 - 45


72 total families through the 4th., 142 if they add the 5th. So will October's cut off be December 4th with 72 families or December 5th with 117 families? Now the 5th looks very feasible...I'm hoping for the 5th...and a 10 day batch!!!

* These numbers are based on those who participate at Rumor Queen and is representative of a small percentage of the whole.

Interesting Coincidence

I know I usually don't post what's on Rumor Queen, let alone two days in a row, but I can't help but be struck with the irony. Here is a quote from todays RQ blog regarding the current wait...

"When we hit September 1st last year they had referred through July 22nd. And as of right now they’ve referred through November 21st with us thinking this next batch may go through November 24th. That’s four months in one year. There is no way to put a positive spin on that. Sure, you could say at least they haven’t brought the program to a complete standstill, but that’s about all I can come up with.

We knew October and November were big, and that November was going to be hard to get through. But, this is really hard. "

Dear friends, this statement hit me like a brick. My LID is exactly 4 months from 11/22/05. In the 17 months I have been logged in, each month I have expected the wait to be ‘another year’. I am hoping NOW that they actually get through those 4 months in the next year, or will the wait continue to grow?

Another LID coincidence happened when we were moved to the Matching Room. There is only one batch of LID's that the CCAA split during review. It was March 2006. They ended the first batch on March 22, 2006 (my LID). It would be months later before the CCAA finished review of the rest of March '06. I found it very lucky to barely make the cut-off, yet it was very unsettling to see the rest of March families wait and worry.

• Now here we are... a year a way? I don't know.
• How many months before they even start matching March families?
• When they start matching March families, how will we be split?
• How many months will it take to get through one of the biggest referral months ever? November '05 might take 5 months, will March be longer?
  
  Something's Gotta Give!!

The Rumor Mill

Join me on the bumpy ride we like to call the Adoption Rollercoaster!

Here's what was going around the rumor mill at China Adopt Talk yesterday...

"August 30th, 3007
I’m told that someone with a lid of Nov 25th has been told she is not included in this batch.

I’m not ready to consider this a done deal, but it is not looking very good right now. "

Now today's rumor...

"August 31st, 2007
A second European Agency is now saying “with almost complete certainty” that some of December will be in this batch.

This is a very reliable agency and they have my complete attention with this one.
They basically say that they are positive that the 24th is in, and can say “with
almost complete certainty” that some of December will be in this batch.

This one gets an R3½

I absolutely hate it when people get their hopes up only to have them smashed on the rocks of reality. I hope that this doesn’t happen this time. But, there are two agencies saying it, and one of them has been reliable in the past."

I'm praying for today's rumor this will definitely point to an increase in matching and move us much closer to referral.

Fingerprinting...

We got our letters for fingerprint appointment today.. in just over 2 weeks! (We even got them on the same day and time!)

More news tomorrow about the zoo! I'm exhausted!

Great News!

Okay, in this rollercoaster of high expectations, dashed hopes and ever changing landscape, something worked...

Our I-171h expires this coming Tuesday. We got our medicals done in June, our home study updated in July and I mailed our I-600A application with a request for one free renewal on August 17th.

Today we received a letter from Immigration dated 8/21 that they have accepted our one time free application extension! Our fingerprinting appointment will be coming (when? who knows) Current processing time overall is 3 months from letter date!

Yahoo, we caught a break... now that the orphan donation has gone up $1000 I think we broke even!

P.S. To those of you that missed the cut-off, (Luna) I am sorry... but you will be getting your baby sooner... I'll trade if you want!

Lucky Seventeen

Seventeen always makes me think of birthday cakes! White cake with buttercream frosting! That is what I call "Birthday Cake"! Can you smell the vanilla, sugar and candles? Just add a big scoop of strawberry swirl ice cream!

My birthday is June 17th & Chris' is December 17th. We were born on each other's half birthday! Cool huh?

October 17th 2005 was they day we officially started our adoption for Hope and mailed our first I-600A and adoption agency application! (also my cousin Keith's birthday) I even just mailed our I-171H update on August 17th!


So SEVENTEEN MONTHS down...actually quite numb about it...here's hoping for LESS THAN A YEAR to go!!!

Today I pray for Hope and her birth family, as I believe
that she is not born yet. I pray for their safety, health and
courage.

I also pray for our continued patience and strength in this endless wait. That we find ways to fill our time loving each other and living life as a gift.

Lastly, I pray for change, change in the process, allowing more children in need be united with families that need them.

Ever forward, but faster...

Spreadsheet Therapy

Some days, when I'm not shopping for baby clothes, playing with spreadsheets makes me feel better. Yet when I'm done, with either, I am still no closer to my daughter. They are still just beautiful clothes hanging in a closet and guesses as to when.

I am praying today for a miracle. That God will work on all those involved in adoption, everywhere, making it easier for children in need, to reach families in need.

Here is a spread sheet that shows referral rates by 7-15 day averages.

Average LID Days Referred per Month
Last 6 Months : 8
Last 19 Months: 11

The overall average was 13 days before they started processing November, thus skewing our overall average. So to be on the hopeful side. I do not believe that the average will continue at such a slow rate. I'm hoping for somewhere between 11 & 13.

Judge for yourselves!

Red Thread Friends

Hey everyone! My friend Amiee has FINALLY started her blog! Check it out to see an adorable video of her son Luca and a frog! Too cute!

Journey to Eden

No better way to celebrate my 100th post!!

China Update

I have NOT posted in the last few months when there has been a change in the Chinese adoption world, largely because most of my audience is on the same Roller Coaster I am and don't need the Play By Play.

So I am going to post today to get my family and friends up to date on our adoption progress. Can anyone say, "Year of the Snail"?


OUT OF REVIEW

• The CCAA has reviewed all dossiers logged in (LID) through June 30, 2006, as of this week.
• Now they have 13 months of dossiers sitting, waiting for the CCAA approval, pray for these people.
  

MATCHED

• The first week of July, the CCAA matched families with LID's from November 8 - 14, 2005. (7 days this cycle, this stinks)
• This leaves 128 LID days until they reach our LID, March 22, 2006. (our golden ticket)
• This also leaves 7.5 months to match that are currently in the Matching Room, add the 13 more waiting - over 20 months behind overall.

LYNN's LAW of AVERAGES

Glass is EMPTY theory: If the CCAA continues at the snail pace of matching 2-9 days each cycle, (I'll go with 7 day average) it will take (128/7=18.28) another 20 months before we are referred! I won't even figure that month out...

Glass is FULL theory: If the CCAA picks up its pace once November is all matched (big month for adoption requests) say 15 - 20 days per cycle. Then the overall average might move up to 15. (128/15=8.53) or 9 more months - April 2008 referral.

Glass is HALF FULL theory: (my bet) I believe that the overall average will become larger, but not sure if it will make it to 15. So if we go with the mid line between 7 & 15, OR 11, then (128/11=11.63) or ANOTHER YEAR. - July 2008 referral.

Oh, yeah, Don't forget to tac on 2 more months until we travel, and a referral in June may end us in China during the Olympics. Then we will have to re-mortgage the house for airfare (Just kidding, I think?)

At this point, I believe we will have another Christmas, another school year, and very possibly another summer, without a referral. I am deeply saddened by the thought of this. Chris is growing into a young man before my eyes and I can't imagine another year without a sister for him or a daughter us, or a baby at home to care for.

My actual wish at this point would be an early April 2008 referral, travel by mid-May and be home for Chris' last 2 weeks of 6th grade. This or sooner...

If we truly must wait until the fall of 2008 to unite with Hope, it will be a 3 year wait, as we began our official journey on October 17, 2005, expecting no more than a years wait.

So, I am asking for prayer - The prayer that never fails, "Thy will be done." and the strength and patience to live with the outcome. I still believe that this is where we should be - Waiting for Hope - however hopeless it may seem.

Sweet Sixteen

Today marks our Sweet Sixteen...LID months that is.

Had a dream this morning, I was busy dressing a baby boy. I couldn't find shoes to match his outfit. I had him dressed in white shorts, white short sleeved button down and a white cable sweater vest with red in the V. Very similar to one Chris wore when he was small. I kept saying, "I wasn't planning on having a boy, so I got rid of all of Chris' baby shoes." I don't remember feeling upset in the dream. The baby was cute and very snuggly...

Maybe this is how Hope's mother will feel, not planning on having a girl and not being prepared, but loving her just the same.

Sixteen down... how many more to go?

Today's forecast was rain...

We were planning to have my friend Amiee and her boys (Adrian 8 & Luca 3) over today to swim. With cool temps and pending rain, what else do you do in Michigan when it rains? We went shopping... heading out to Great Lakes Crossing and 'Did the Mall'!

We had lunch at Rainforest Cafe, where Luca was enthralled with all the animals but became a little nervous when they started to move and make noise. He was a real trooper and made it just fine through lunch.

Chris and Adrian had fun doing what boys do best, and Amiee even let Chris push Luca around in the stroller for a while. He LOVED this... visions of things to come...

We went to Outdoor World, to see the fish and mandarins, and various 'stuffed' animals! Once we got that out of the way we lured the boys into some of our favorite children's clothing stores by bribing them with ice cream at DQ later. When they were filled with DQ we let them run around on the play area and take a ride on the carousel. Chris loved getting a chance to "watch" Luca, giving him an excuse to crawl all over the play food himself!

It was a perfect way to spend a rainy summer day, letting the boys bond and giving us mom's times to dream about getting our girls one day...

Thanks Amiee, Adrian & Luca! Chris & I had a very fun day!

My only regret... I didn't bring my camera!

Gone to Amish Country

While the boys are away, my mom and I are taking a few days to poke around Amish country. I am so excited to be going on a trip that doesn't involve sleeping bags and a cooler! We will be staying at a quaint country Inn, and are assured that there will be plenty of shops and sites to take in.

We planned the trip to coincide with the boys' camping trip so we could be near them for "Family Day". Wednesday we will be able to stop in to see Chris and Jim for the day, then go back to the Inn for the night!


____________________________________________________________________

On another Note:


SUPER NANNY:

I want everyone to think about my friend JT today. She is just one of those friends who is always there, ready with a hug, a funny story or a verbal smack to snap me into reality! Her attitude on life is right on and her faith in the Lord is strong. She is always inspiring me to buck up, put on my big girl panties and move forward then she makes me laugh until I have to change those panties!

JT is one of those women who serves God by taking care of children. On top of teaching the toddlers each Sunday and running all or part of VBS each year, she is a professional nanny. In her most recent job she cared for 2 children, the youngest was just 4 months old when she began three years ago. The family is moving out of state and today was her last day.

She has been sad about the move for weeks now and today was exceptionally difficult. I can't imagine her pain. How she loved these kids as if they were her own and now they will be taken away. I keep thinking about our choice not to adopt domestically because I didn't want to lose a baby if the birth mother changed her mind. Then I think about the nannies in China who over and over again nurture babies that end up being taken away. The loss must be tremendous, the choice to do it is heroic.

So cyber-hugs for you JT today...I'm sorry I'm going out of town... I will miss you...

15 Months

Today is our 15 month LID Anniversary.

I have been having so much fun with Chris this week. I didn't realize how distracted I was until last night. At VBS I bumped into a friend of a friend, I hadn't seen in many months. She grabbed me and said, "Do we have a baby yet!". I was so caught off guard, I started to tear up. I actually had forgotten and felt bad that I had to break the news to her that she still had to wait too...

I have Chris home for the next 2.5 months so when we get closer to our 18 month wait, I will be back needing to find a new distraction. However, nothing will be as natural, rewarding, or as fun as spending time with my son.

Since I am in such a great place right now, I am able to focus on my health. Michigan summer's have a way of doing that! In Michigan we just attack summer with a vengance! It's here so fleeting, we have to grab it and hang on tight!

So far the weather has been amazing. This means we have had very little rain and our grass is getting brown. Who cares about the grass? We have been in our little pool everyday and have enjoyed eating dinner's on the patio and walks in the park.

So I'm down 4.... let's see what the summer holds! Maybe I can get back to my wedding day, skinny?

Birdhouse II

Click on the picture for a closer look

The house itself is done... Tune in Monday to see if Jim had time this week-end to help me turn it into a lamp!


Have a great week-end everyone... I am hangin' with my guys!

NOTICE: NON-CYBER FRIENDS

You know who you are... family and friends who have a computer and periodically check my blog to see what's up. Kim, Janis, Judy, Mom, Jim (DH) and more! Yup! I know you all check, because you tell on yourselves!

Now, I know, you all know, that the whole reason I blog is, because I can't stop talking. So when you aren't around to talk to or hang out with I have had to resort to blogging! All my new cyber-friends keep me company during the day by leaving me comments and making me feel... well, appreciated!

I would love it if my non-cyber friends would leave comments. You may not be leaving comments because you might feel intimidated, feel you need a blogger ID or worry someone from cyber-land will send you weird e-mails. But I am here to tell you, you do not need to be afraid! You can leave comments quite easily and you don't even need to provide ANY personal info (except maybe a clue as to who you are)

In providing me with comments you will be doing a good thing! You will make me feel loved, needed and wanted. You will also be letting my cyber-friends know that I actually have friends that I have been in the same room with! As you can see.... this is a worthy cause! It's etiquette. If you like the post, leave a comment. Just like you would tip your waiter for good service!

So, here is your first Blog training!

HOW TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON LYNN'S BLOG- by Sewhopeful22

STEP #1: Click COMMENTS

At the bottom of each post you will find a comments line showing the number of comments in green. (Diagram 1)

If you click on the word 'COMMENTS' it will take you into the "Post a Comment Page".

STEP #2: Leave a Comment

On the "Post a Comment Page" you will find a list of comments on the left (if any) and the 'Leave your comment' box on the right. (Diagram 2)

Type a quick note in the large box. (Or long if you feel lead!)

STEP #3 & 4: Choose an identity

Other button: (best choice) Click this button and you will have a 'choice' of typing in your name or another identifier for yourself. First names are fine or you could put in say, "Shadow's Mom" or "The Perfect Nerd" or "Favorite Cousin" something I would know...

Anonymous button: Use this if you don't want me to know who you are. Say if you want to disagree with me... I wouldn't recommend this! ;)

STEP #5: Publish your comment

Once you type it all in, just click the big orange button "PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT" (Still Diagram 2)

It will then display on the right, for me and all of cyberland to see! (Diagram 3)

-Re-Cap At A Glance-
1. Click - COMMENT
2. Type what you want to say in the big box
3. Click the "Other" button
4. Type in your name (or skip altogether)
5. Click PUBLISH YOU COMMENT button

Now... I lets see those comments!

UPDATE: 6/8/07 I KNEW THIS WOULDN'T WORK....

6 DAYS... DOWN 135 TO GO

As the Mary Engelbreit card Jim gave me a few weeks ago said...

"EVER FORWARD, BUT SLOWLY"

Sheeesh... this is slow!

So when are they going to get April out of review?

I Saw Ladybugs at Gymboree!

My cousin Kim and her four year old Gracie meet me every month or so for lunch and shopping.

Kim and I love to talk! We have a lot in common and I just love spending time with her. Gracie is a 'terrific' shopper and is starting to have an opinion on her wardrobe!

Friday I met them at Great Lakes Crossing and we just wandered the mall, going from kids clothing store to another, chatting away, oblivious to anyone else there!

Kim's son, Noah just turned nine, so we even spent a little while picking out a few summer duds for our boys at The Children's Place.
However, spending time in Carter's, Gymboree and Claire's picking out pink hair bows for Gracie were a bit more fun! We even spent some time in the Sanrio store. Gracie got a new Hello Kitty jewelry box!

Check out the deals I got at Gymboree on these ladybug theme clothes for Hope. All half price! All in 12-18 months sizes.

P.S. Kim and Gracie bought Hope the ladybug hair clips to match! It's a secret! Don't tell!

Life with Lily Lin

I've been waiting to post this one! After a few weeks of e-mailing Lily's mom, Nikki (Life With Lily Lin) and I finally set up a 'play-date'.

This past Wednesday we met at a neighborhood park and got to know one another.













Nikki had picked up lunch and spread out a big blanket for us. Such a good hostess!

I have to tell everyone that there were no surprises here! They were as warm, sweet and cute as they are on their blog.


Nikki was genuinely friendly and willing to share anything about Lily and her experience.








What a cutie!


Lily had a play structure and some swings to play on. When those got boring mom pulled out bubbles (imagine that!) and I pulled out the Play-Doh I keep in my purse! (secret weapon!)


Lily is very smart and much cuter in person. I was amazed at how tiny her fingers were. We had fun rolling Play-Doh shapes!


I can't wait to get together again and let them meet Chris.

This is No Kiddie Ride

Early this month rumors out of China were 'unbelievably' good.

We had 3 full weeks to dream about a possible speed up...

Now we are getting very close to referrals and rumors are not very good.

I guess we won't know until the ride is over, but it looks like we are back to the same old thing.

Waiting in line.


Best news of the week! I might be able to squeeze in a free ride with USCIS. My I-171H expires the end of August. If I renew after July 30th but before mine expires, I get a freebie!!

Bird House Lamp

I had this idea for a birdhouse lamp for Hope's room. Turn a birdhouse into a lamp with a PVC pipe as a pole and embedded into a flower pot for the base.

Sometimes my inspiration is motivated by cost savings and sometimes it's just a need to have a creative outlet. This birdhouse lamp is both.

I searched high and low for an unfinished birdhouse that looked like a real house and was about the size of a lampshade. This was not easy...

I ended with a papermache birdhouse I found at "Hobby Lobby" in Port Huron. The top comes off along the seam above the upper windows. Which I thought would be a cool way to change the light bulb. But I didn't like the paper. So I bought a bunch of balsa wood and some trim pieces and went to town.

I cut balsa in the shapes of all the sides, used a knitting needle to imprint 'siding lines' (click on the picture for a more detailed view)and cut out the window holes. Then I cut trim pieces and tried to make window moldings. This put me back to Micheal's for a balsa wood mitre box and saw. Cute tiny tools! So I learned how make mitre cuts and made my own window and door moldings. Then I added the scroll trim pieces to accent the sides and cover the seams where the balsa wood met. I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR.

The roof was a different issue. I first decided to paint it with a crackle finish and be done. I ended up painting it 5 times and never liked the colors or the finish...

So it sat.... for a few weeks.... my creative mind taking a break..... after several trips down isles at Michael's. I decided that the only way out was to make my own shingles.

So over the week-end I cut several one inch square pieces and used a corner rounder to make them more like shingles. Then I glued them on trying to vary them like the real thing. My family was quite impressed even before I added the stones to the chimney!


So, now I'm at another creative impasse... how to finish the base... any ideas?

Xie Xie

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the people who take time to visit my blog each day and who truly made a difference in my emotional week.

Yes, you can have PMS after a Hysterectomy, the problem is you never know when its coming or when its over!

Did anyone notice I referenced TWO Carpenter's songs last week? Scarrrrry!

Over the years I have written some of my best 'stuff' when I was down and I realize that writing is a much better outlet for me than say, Edy's Slow-Churned.

I have such a strong core of friends and family, I am so blessed. Thanks for listening and responding.

I will be working on some light, fun, and uplifting posts in the next days!

Love you all!

Lynn

14 down...

Not much to say about it... just noting the day! Can I say less than a year now?

I spent way too long looking for clip art for this page. I realize that 14 really isn't a number that is used a lot. One through ten are popular because the make up all the other numbers. Twelve is of course a dozen. Thirteen is unlucky or superstitious and a bakers dozen. Twenty, thirty, forty etc. are big decade milestones, but 14 is just kind of overlooked. Two weeks is 14 days but most everyone just says two weeks.

So I started to think of what 14 meant to me, and thought about the year I was 14. Sweet memories.

Since I am born smack dab in the middle of the year. I was 14 for the last half of 1979 and the first half of 1980! Ninth Grade, Freshman in High School.

"My Shorona", by the Knack was #1 on the charts and Disco was on it's way out!

I began that year seeing Ricky Schroder in "The Champ" and cried literally from the beginning of the movie to the end. I ended the year seeing "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back". At the time I would never know that, twenty some odd years later, I would still be watching Ricky on TV and "That Star Wars Movie" was really the 5th not the 2nd?

On TV I was watching "Three's Company", "Happy Days", "Taxi", and "Eight is Enough". But what I didn't watch was Eddie Murphy debuting on SNL, my mom wouldn't let me!

I went to my first school dance that year and was hooked. I don't believe I missed a dance, date or not, for the next four years. I remember the atmostphere of emotional tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I loved the physical freedom of dancing to something fast and loud, but anticipated the slow songs with butterflies. I still get those butterflies when I hear, "Stairway to Heaven" or "Hotel California".

I went to my first football game and realized how much fun sports were, when there were people to talk to and walk around with. I don't think I ever watched a sporting event until my son was playing, but I rarely missed going to one in High School.

I sang in the girls choir and learned all the words to "Rainbow Connection", "Sound of Silence" and "Simple Gifts". These songs creep up on me to this day and torture my family!

I took cooking class, and learned to make a roux. I still use this from time to time. Just call me Martha. I also learned that sitting on the kitchen counter is poor manners and unsanitary, my son is disappointed I learned this.

But the most significant 14 is my husband Jim's birthday. He was born on the 14th. It is also the number of roses Jim bought me on our 14th valentines day together, however I think he stopped that year and went back to a dozen. That's okay, I'm just glad he brings me roses, that when he asked me to marry him, he wasn't being funny and he has never broken my heart...

Ever Forward, But Slowly - Together

"When there's no gettin' over that rainbow.
When the smallest of dreams won't come true.
I can take all the madness the world has to give,
But I won't last a day.... without you."
~ The Carpenters

Yesterday, I called my husband while he was at work, to ask him if he had seen my punch card for the rec center. When he said, "I have no idea what you are talking about." I burst into tears.

It wasn't about the punch card.

It wasn't about the the White Swan closing, the pending home study redo I am dreading, because I have gained 10 lbs, or the fact that I have been waiting almost 14 months from LID and my baby is out there somewhere, needing me, and I needing her.

It wasn't the mounds of laundry in my bedroom, my sheer lack of inspiration to cook dinners any more or PMS...

It was ALL of it...

My darling husband USUALLY says to me, "I'm in a meeting can I call you back later?" But this time, (I guess it was the sobbing that stopped him) He sat and listened. Like a good psychiatrist, he said very little, until I stopped crying and worked everything out, by myself.

Of the few things he did say besides, "I love you." and "We'll get through this" He said, he would put aside some of his obligaions this week-end and spend more time with me. When I argued that his things were important too. He said, "Not as important as recharghing as a family, that is more important."

That was all I needed to hear.... it doesn't even have to happen. I just know in my heart that he 'gets' it. I just needed to tell him. Maybe next time, I'll do it without sobbing!

Later that afternoon when Chris got home from school I asked him if he'd seen my punch card. He said, "Oh yeah, it's in the truck. It was in my way, on my seat the other day." He had stuffed it between the seat and the gear shift....(fill in here: ____________________what you think I said to him...!)

When Chris went to bed that night Jim came and sat on 'my' sofa with me. He handed me the card pictured here. (I LOVE Mary Engelbreight) and tucked inside was a tiny silver cross with the word "Hope" on it. He even looked up my favorite verse from Romans 5:3-4 and wrote it on the inside.

"..even so we rejoice in our sufferings, because suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, character; and character, hope."

Now I was crying again... this time it was his fault. I love this man!