New Adoption Video Candidates

It's been a while since I posted some videos.

"In My Daughter's Eyes" is just a great song and makes me think of what I want to be to our daughter.

"Taking you Home" is my current favorite. I think it is just so appropriate, with the waiting theme.

Finally, Iz's version of "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World". It is just a really pretty song, and makes me think of our Ladybug waiting Over the Rainbow for us!

Let me know what you think, and if you have your own suggestions!

Lessons from Lemons

My Aunt Janet once sent me a card that said: "When life hands you lemons, stuff them down your bra. Can't hurt, right?"

Seems like I am always trying to find new ways to use the lemons that life hands to me. This latest lemon of the ever expanding adoption wait (we are now at month 13 of our "10 month wait") has really put a lot of things into perspective for me. Please indulge me while I muse on some of those lessons in periodic posts on this blog!

The first lesson comes from a Don Henley song, "My Wedding." The lyric is "To want what we have, to take what we are given, with grace." That has really hit me hard lately. It seems that we have been looking forward to the day when our family starts to grow that we have forgotten to live in the present. I know that I have gotten caught up in the monthly countdown and have been wishing away this past 13 months.

So, after hearing this song, I have taken the challenge to really want what I have right now. I am in the very fortunate position to be married to the most wonderful guy in the whole world. He is so supportive of me and is truly my best friend. I can enjoy just being us. I have a great job, and a goal of completing the business certificate program. I going to start living for today and just let tomorrow come.

We've been dealt a pretty tough hand, but it is what it is. We can scream, cry, fight, blame, and withdraw from life, but what good would that do anyone? So, we choose to take what we have been given and make the best of it.

We have been blessed by wonderfully supportive family and friends. Thank you for your prayers and kind words.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

:D

One Year Down...

Well, we celebrated our one year LID anniversary on March 30. Who knew a year could go by so fast and yet drag on. What a weird sensation.

Still no good news out of China. Looks like April will be another 5 day batch of referrals.

B is almost done with his MBA degree. He is looking forward to being done with homework. I, on the other hand, have just started back to school. I figure that I might as well do some thing constructive with the wait. I might even be able to earn MY MBA!

Well, that's all for now. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

New Focus...

So in the craziness that we call our life these days, I have a new focus. I'm trying to find songs for the adoption video. I will occasionally post songs that are in the running, and you tell me what you think.

This first one comes from my mom. I love it because I can totally see my DH dancing with our DD to this some day, and really live the words. (Have I mentioned that I have the best DH in the entire world?)

Enjoy "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Steven Curtis Chapman ::

Cinderella ~ possible adoption video?

Urgent Request

Many of you may have heard about the snowstorms in China. What you might not have heard about is the many orphanages that have been hit hard by the storms. Many are located in parts of the country that do not typically have such harsh weather, and therefore do no have heaters, blankets, warm clothes, etc. They are having trouble getting food and supplies into the orphanages. Roads are closed, and supplies in local stores are quickly becoming unafforadable due to supply and demand.

Even though Ladybug might not be born yet, we have many friends whose daughters are suffering right now. We have a couple friends who have pictures of their daughters and are just waiting for travel authorization. Can you imagine "knowing" your daughter and wondering if she is warm and fed tonight?

What can be done? There is a reputable organization called Half the Sky Foundation. They can be found at www.halfthesky.org. They typically provide support for the children of China in the orphanages until their adoptive parents can come for them. They have set up an emergency relief fund called the Little Mouse Emergency Fund. (2008 is the year of the rat/mouse.) If it is within your finaical wearwithall, please consider a donation to this fund. There is a little mouse icon on the homepage. They money will go to help provide diapers, formula, blankets and other immediate relief to the orphanages affected by the snow disaster. As with most developing countries, they can get a big bang for an american buck, so even a small donation can do a lot of good.

If you are unable to make a donation, please pray for the safety of all the little ones in the orphanages. They are among the most vulnerable in this type of situation and I am so concerned for their wellbeing.

Hope all is well in your neck of the world!
:D

100 Good Wishes Progress #1

I've gotten a lot of questions about what exactly to send, what kind of fabric prints, what a wish should look like, etc.

So, here you go! Here are some pictures of fabric squares and some wishes and the scrapbook. The fabric should be 8x8, 100% cotton. Let your imagination run wild!!

Hopefully I will have all 100 squishes soon and will be able to start work on the quilt piecing! I think this will be incredibly theraputic for me and make the whole adoption thing seem more real. Sometimes the looooong wait makes it seem like it is never going to happen, like it is some sort of pipe dream that we are not getting any closer to. It helps to do concrete things to get ready, like decorating the nursery and making the 100 Good Wishes quilt.

Thanks for all of your support! If you haven't sent in a squish yet, get it in quick!

:D