May Baby Referrals

Wow, what a rough month this has been. Rumors that referrals weren't going to be sent out again until September 2009. Have had some dark moments of just want to give up. But, God is good and he has helped me through the month. Also, wonderfully supportive friends and family. And the good news is May referrals were received today. Congrats to all the families out there who are seing their little ones faces for the first time! I think our turn will come in September, if things continue at this pace. What an end of the summer present that will be!!! I can't wait!

April Baby Referrals

Well only a couple more days this month. China made referrals for March 7th & 8th. There are lots of rumors that more babies are going to be available for adoption and things should speed up. But I'm not getting my hopes up. It is just to hard to get all excited and then only see 2 days of LID's rerferred babies. There are only 27 days of LIDs between us and our baby. I'm just hoping it doesn't take all of 2009 to get there! Our agency says we should have a referral by Fall so that is what I'm counting on.

The Shack

My husband and I love to read. Although the subject of our reading greatly varies. He likes scary, weird books (Stephen King), while I like books about puppies, sunsets & rainbows with happily every afters. I've been reading "The Cat Who" book series by Lillian Jackson for several years. I almost have all of the series. They are mystries but not scary or too graphic. It is the perfect read for times when you don't want to really think to much, just enjoy a stroll through a book. I also like Self-help books or books that will help me grow closer to God.

Anyway, my hubby is always trying to get me to read a book he's just read and says how good it is. And the bad/scary (or whatever) parts aren't that bad. I try to tell him I just don't like to read about serial killers, mass murders and such. For some reason my brain hangs on to that morbid info and thinks about it and dwells on it until it's got me all wigged out. So the last 3 books he has asked me to read I have politely said ok.. and then put aside hoping he wouldn't notice.

So the other night, my husband just finished reading The Shack. He just went on and on about what a good message it had. He said I just have to read it. So I started asking some questions about it. It is a christian fiction story, based losely on factual events. And the story starts out where a father's daughter is kidnapped and murdered by some serial killer. He tries to tell me that that is just a small part of the book...........well that is horrible, why would anyone want to read a story like that. But he really thought I would like the message of this book and really wanted me to read it. So since I've said no to so many others, I thought I will read it for him. So today I got to the part where the daughter was kidnapped & murdred. And I have been crying ever since, and I have a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. WHY am I so sensitive. I know this kind of thing happens in life, but why when I get into a story about it I am so affected by it. This tragedy happens while they are camping. Something we do every summer... I immediately think "well we are never taking our daugther camping". What a mess a book can make of me... I really hope this story is worth the way I feel right now. I'll keep you posted.

Thankful Thursday...

Today I am thankful for my job :)

Especially with so many people without jobs and struggling to pay bills and care for their families, I am thankful we both have jobs. Even though there are times when my job makes me want to run screaming from the building, those times are few a far between. The last year has been challenging with my boss going out on maternity leave and then deciding to quit to stay home with her new baby (lucky her!). Luckily before she went out on leave we hired another person to work in our office, if I had to get through this last year alone.. I would have never of made it. My new co-worker, Diana, is wonderful. She is so smart and funny and fun to work with. We have really leaned on eachother and that got us through some tough spots. I actually work with a lot of wonderful people. It makes going to work fun! That dosesn't mean I don't secretely dream that I'd win the lottery and not have to work... Cuz I would quit if I didn't have to. Then I could stay home and take of our daugther full time. Hmmm... maybe that is why our adoption has gone through yet... maybe I'm going to win the lottery and become rich and get to stay home with her! Wow, I better start buying lottery tickets!!!

As for the adoption, things moved forward a little more this month. More than last month, but not as much as I'd like it too!!! China has match babies to parents who had their paperwork logged into China through March 6, 2006. So we are so close to our log in date of April 3, 2006. Only 27 days of log in dates between me and my baby.... Not sure how long it is going to take to get through those 27 days... But I'm still hoping for early fall 2009.

Happy Valentines Day

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband. He knows just how to make me feel loved. I woke up Saturday morning to breakfast in bed. Yummy Blueberry Belgian Waffles and OJ. And then when I went downstairs he had this beautiful flower arrangement on the table. With cards from him and all my "kids". Plus a cute little musical bear. He knows how much I love Gerber Daisy's (we had them in our wedding) and I loved the unique one in front that was both yellow & red. I hadn't ever seen one like that before. We had a wonderful day! We went to a late lunch/early dinner at Red Robin (trying to avoid the crowd... didn't really work). After dinner we went home to watch the movies I had rented (Fireproof & Madagascar II). Fireproof was pretty good... A little stressful in the beginning because of how mean they were to each other. But had a good message & ending. And we loved the original Madagascar and I was excited to see the sequel. It was really good! Don thought it was even better than the original! We liked it so much we watched it again on Sunday. I guess we are just big kids at heart. I can't wait to watch these types of movies with our daughter!

Thankful Thursdays

I got this idea (Thankful Thursdays) from a fellow blogger. I have also been doing some reading about the secret behind joyful people. It seems joyful people concentrate on the things they are thankful for in their lives rather than focusing on the problems and disappointments. What great advice. I bought the plaque above at a christmas bazaar last year. My mom an I went to see my sister who lives about 1 hour away. It was such a fun day... we went to several bazaars and had lunch and just had some fun girl time! When I saw this plaque I though it was a perfect reminder to remember there is always something to be thankful for. Even when things in your life aren't going the way you want them to.

The funny thing is... I was sitting on my couch this last Sunday and I looked at the plaque and read it. And I was surprised to see the word "Always" written on it twice. Who added the second "always"??????? I could swear when I bought this plaque it didn't have the word "always" twice in a row!!!!!!!! When my hubby got home I asked him and he said the same thing. It was a little freakie. It's funny what your mind thinks. Did someone change it??? That is impossible! Is it a sign that I'm not being thankful (because lately I've been focusing on what I don't have rather than being thankful for what I do). Is God trying to make a point with me??? Well, we'll never know! I guess I'll just remember to be thankful!

Things that make me smile... Part II

Picturing our daughter in her nursery. We had this cool mural painted for her. Her name will be painted just above the crib when we finally decide on one.

Seeing my two little kitty-koo's just barely waking up and peaking out of their box when I come home after work.

My mom-in-law and her hyperactive puppy, brandy.