Yes, Another Blog

Humorous, random, less focused, disjointed, rambling, muddled...In other words, this new blog will be more like how my mind actually functions:

Lemon Harangue Pie

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!!

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before December 31, 2005.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before August 9, 2005.

Hurray!! More referrals!

We are getting things ready for Olivia! We found the crib bedding that we liked but wanted it to have more red on it, so I sewed red rick-rack around the edges. Much better!

Also, Lee put together the shelving unit we got at IKEA, and I decorated it with books, toys Lee and I played with when we were little, our Bugs Bunny collectibles, things that we have been given for Olivia, and wonderful soft-sided "drawers" from Target! I LOVE how it turned out!

CCAA Slowly Progresses...

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before December 31, 2005.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before July 22, 2005.

So, no more referrals yet, but they have finished reviewing paperwork through 2005!! There are rumors that February is now in the review room, but more referrals, please! They are still in July!! Please pray for the waiting families, but especially for the waiting babies.

Pictures below show the "Matching Room" where the CCAA matches paperwork for babies and families. The middle picture is of babies in cribs with no mattresses, pillows, or anything soft! Just on hard wood. Picture on the right is of babies in little walkers. Sorry I cannot figure out how to make the pictures bigger.

It's time...

My mom taught me, by word and deed, to pay attention to God's creation in nature. I remember in high school, she called me outside to see a stickbug. She said, "Doesn't God have a great sense of humor?" I thought it was kind of cool then, but, ok, I'm gonna go back inside now, mom. After all I was in high school! But I have never seen one since. I am so glad she took the time to show me that. She taught me to notice the different sounds of the birds, God's touch in the trees - with how many different shapes of leaves and shades of green there are, and to just be aware of nature.

It was with a smile on my face then, when three days in a row now, I have seen different flocks of Canadian Geese flying south for the winter. I don't know if I would pay attention to it if it weren't for my mom. I glanced at other people as they flew overhead -- no one noticed. Maybe that seems silly to some, but I am grateful for my "awareness". I also noticed the first tree turning red. Beautiful.
Of course part of the reason I am ok with the trees changing and the birds flying south is because the faster fall comes, the faster winter comes and then spring and then CHINA?? But also, there is something funny that happens to we Minnesotans this time of year. We grow tired of the shorts and flip-flops and yearn for the sweaters and boots. Many don't understand this odd transformation, or the desire for it, and perhaps you have to live in a cold climate to get it. But it's time. Time for the cozy nights sipping cocoa by the fireplace. Time to watch the leaves fall fast and furiously. Time to speculate when the snow may fall. Time for marshmallow roasts. Time to "hunker down" and enjoy playing games or reading a book, or my favorite winter hobby, knitting. Enjoy!!

SIX Months Down!

Well, it was supposed to be half way, but now that the wait has once again been extended, we'll just celebrate that we are SIX MONTHS DOWN!! And, really, it's half way to SOMETHING!!

Most definitely our baby Olivia is born now, which is a strange realization. We pray protection over her constantly. If we get a referral in March and she is six months old at referral, then she has been born or will be born this month. If she is older at referral, then she is already here!!

We celebrated the big day by having a picnic with a few AWAA friends and their kids. Two of the families have been wonderful mentors to us, the Strassburgs, who have two daughters from China, Maya and Shayla; and Brennans, parents to Zoe, also from China (they also have three older bio kids). The last family we celebrated with is the Woykes, the family who lives a few blocks away. We have the same LID (log-in date) and are in the same travel group. The have two young bio kids, Celia and Barak. Kiah, our god-daughter, came with us.

(click on the pictures to enlarge)

The kids helped to decorate the dessert with a big number six on it for the Shelton's and Woyke's six month log-in date anniversary!

Please pray for all the waiting babies and families!

Dawn

Remembering September 11

Another anniversary, but this one isn't a pleasant one. Seeing all the pictures and hearing the stories has taken me back to that day. The feeling of horror, shock, dismay, bewilderment, sheer ignorance, naivete'. I almost laugh at myself now thinking about how I couldn't figure out what the reporters were talking about when they spoke of the drastic effect that it would have on our economy. I know so much more now, because a piece of me died that day, too. A piece of my innocence.

I am a product of the 70's...the Challenger explosion was the big shocking thing of my growing up years, and that was an accident. I had never witnessed anything like this in my life. I was convinced that it must be some horrible accident, something went wrong. Until the second plane hit. Then I believed what I was hearing...an act of terrorism.

I remember that I couldn't tear my eyes away from the TV. I didn't want to be watching it, but I couldn't turn away. I called my parents. Turn on the TV. I called my sister in California. Her husband answered and I said, "Turn on the TV". He kind of half-chuckled, like, what are you calling at 7:00 a.m. for? But he quickly understood. I called my boss. He was about to get on a call with his boss, so he called him and they watched it together for a bit. I made no more calls, just sat, lethargic, watching, stunned. I prayed and prayed.

Not too long into the day our HQ sent a message to all employees. I can't remember the entire message from our HR director, but I know it started with, "Out of respect for the people," then something like, "who were effected by the tragedy that has struck the U.S. today, Entertainment Publications is closing it's HQ and all satellite locations for the day." Like I said, that was the gist of it, but I clearly remember "Out of respect for the people". I thought to myself - respect for the people. If only those who did this had respect for the people. I was grateful that my company allowed work to cease that day. I know many others had to muddle through.

It was strange and eery for a while. No planes in the skies. No jokes. Nothing was funny. Nothing seemed important. All we could think about were the people who were missing, lost. I couldn't listen to any music. I couldn't sing, my favorite thing to do. I so often do it subconsciously, but after 9/11 I didn't sing for a while. I think it was a few weeks. I remember driving in the car a week after and turning on the radio, but I just had to shut it off again.

The thing that surprised me most, though, is that I couldn't cry. I felt choked up -- I felt like I was going to cry, but there were no tears. It took me a long time to cry, but once I did, the tears flowed. For all the lost. For all those babies born or unborn who wouldn't know their daddies or mommies. For all those people who lost a loved one. For the people who knew they were dying, and for those who didn't. For our aching hearts, our sad, aching hearts when it felt like we could never be happy again. I also cried happy tears that the estimates around 25,000 or more in the towers were wrong. Or that the planes weren't full. But it only has to be one when it is your husband, or your wife or father, mother, sister, brother, child.

The prayers need to continue. For the families affected and for the future of our people and our country. May God bless our leaders and give them unity and peace in their decisions and may He give us peace in our hearts. My prayer is that many more came to know the Lord through this tragedy and have the peace that passes understanding. God bless our freedom, our country and God bless YOU.

From Arby's to China!

It has been a year since we made the decision to adopt! It's our adoptiversary! We marked this event by going to Arby's, where we were (in the drive-thru!) when the big decision took place! We had gone to an informational meeting at a local agency and were discussing it on the way home. I told Lee, "Listen, I really want to do this, but I'm not gonna bring it up again until you do." (Thinking that I was going to wait a while.) Not one second passed and he said, "Well, we're gonna do it!" I was so excited but almost felt like it was too good to be true. "We ARE?" I said. "Yes! I just didn't know if I wanted to go with that agency". So the apprehension I sensed from him was about the agency not adopting! Yippeeeeeee!

We ended up applying to AWAA and have never regretted our decision! They have been there for every question, thought, and concern. When there was a small mishap on our end, they helped resolve the issue expeditously.

Hopefully the next year goes as fast as the last one!!

AWAA Get-together and CCAA update

Way to go CCAA!! Keep it up! RAH RAH!


The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before November 30, 2005.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before July 22, 2005.

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We got together with the MN AWAA group recently and here are some of the pictures:

Here area bunch of the AWAA kids!
From left to right: Zoe B., Elijah P., Rachel S., Rebecca S., Michaela P., Sarah P., Shayla S., our god-daughter Kiah E., and Mia S. In front is Andrew R., who is waiting for his mei mei - little sister! His family is in our travel group.

As always, we had a wonderful time!