We survived the snowiest December in recorded history! It's pretty ridiculous how much snow we have. Brennan thinks it's REALLY neat. We bring some in the house in a bowl for him to play with, and he loves it. Next year I will introduce him to snow cream!
Our Christmas was very nice. We were just the right amount of busy, there was ample family time, lots of great food, and it was fun watching Brennan open presents! He caught on very quickly and even opened one of my presents when I wasn't looking. :) We received a gift towards our adoption fund that I am VERY grateful for and we only have a few thousand left to go! The gifts we gave were not as expensive as we normally give, but I think people didn't mind, or notice. I hope, anyway! I will try and remember to post some pictures soon!
We got our fingerprints done! We got them done a week early. Not too early, but at least they are DONE. Now I am waiting for our golden ticket!! Tomorrow we are getting a bunch of things notarized, and I am waiting for our marriage certificates in the mail. I have to redo my medical form - it was done right except the doctor didn't put down that I was diabetic! So I need that document redone. Then we have one more and we're done! So close, it's getting more real! If everything lines up correctly, we could be meeting our son in three months! Can I start packing yet?? I really need to start working on learning the local language, or I am going to be lost! Yikes. I'm not sure I can learn very much in only a few months!
Oh, I forgot to mention this before - I quit my job! I am now a stay at home mom! It was hard to leave, because I did direct care. It wasn't just computers and whatnot I was leaving, but people. And my coworkers were awesome. But I promised I would come visit - my boss would say to me, "WHEN you come visit" which always made me smile. I'm hoping I can be the "craft lady" and go do crafts with everyone once a month or so.
How's that for a random post?
12.29.2010
12.18.2010
On Christmas, and other things
Happy Birthday, Dad!
I know I've mentioned many times what a HAM Brennan is. But I had no idea what lengths he'd go to just to be a star. Today, at my dad's birthday lunch, B found a lemon slice. We encouraged him to taste it, and of course, he shuddered and made ridiculously cute faces. We all laughed. Brennan noticed. This poor kid tortured himself, sucking on a lemon, because he knew we would laugh! He'd bring it up sloooowly to his mouth, sit there for a minute - almost daring himself to eat it. Then he'd take a tiny lick! It was so cute! He's such a goofball. I realized this week, as I watched him run back and forth through the house, that the only thing I did NOT teach him how to do is RUN! He figured that one out all by himself, go figure! Also, it is very cute when one year olds run!
Our dossier iiiiisssss..... still not ready. Our fingerprint appointment is not until Dec. 30th. I've tried to get it moved up, but it hasn't worked out. I'm still hoping we will get one this week, when Ken is off work. It's very unlikely though. I've done everything except actually show up and demand a new appointment, which I am still tempted to do! They make it clear on their website that they will not do your prints if it is not your appoinment time. I don't know what else to do, except aquire some patience. HA. I'm hoping to get a lot done this week. With Ken home, we can go and get everything notarized, and he can help watch B so I can work on things. I am picking up our medical paperwork on Monday. We went to a new doctor, someone another adoptive mom reccommended, and they were great! Our doctor has adopted five children himself and was very helpful. He told us, the less we say, the better! As in, if we haven't had brain or heart surgery, we're good to go. :) So as long as we get the paperwork done right, we're done with that part!
I can't believe it is almost Christmas! Seriously, where did December go? I feel like I'm just hanging on to its coattails! It's been different this year, with my little guy 5300 miles from us. When I was shopping for Christmas presents, I'd see things and think, Oh Joshua would love this... but he's not here. I did buy him one thing - a shirt that says "Wonderfully Made". I couldn't resist! I just want to hold my tiny guy, and kiss him and snuggle. But we've still got months to go.
I've also really been struck by people's greed this year. I suppose that's normal, when your eyes have been opened to the 147 million children in the world who have no families to celebrate Christmas with this year. I sit quiet through conversations of what people are buying their kids this year, the "must haves". I change the TV station when they start talking about this year's hot toys. I cringe when I hear the kid in the store saying, "Dad, I need this", while holding an expensive toy. I want to shake them and say, "You don't know what NEED is!" I realize not everyone has a passion or desire or even awareness for the needy around us. Maybe that's the hardest part to stomach. There are just. so. many people who are "needy" this Christmas and every Christmas, and yet there are just. so. many people who blindly walk by and do nothing. It's something I really struggle with, because I know I can't tell everyone else that they must donate toys to kids, or donate to an orphan's grant, or even invite someone over who doesn't have anyone to spend Christmas with. But. I want to. I want them to see. For now, I will raise my children to know that we help others, and we give before we get. Because Jesus said so.
We sponsored two families for Christmas this year, although we weren't able to give a whole lot, 6 people have presents who didn't before! One of our families asked for steak knives. And forks.
I asked for a minivan.
Ok, the minivan was mostly to make my mom laugh. But really, forks! For Christmas! Not Ipads or a wii or {popular toy}. but forks.
They got some.
And more.
Merry Christmas.
I know I've mentioned many times what a HAM Brennan is. But I had no idea what lengths he'd go to just to be a star. Today, at my dad's birthday lunch, B found a lemon slice. We encouraged him to taste it, and of course, he shuddered and made ridiculously cute faces. We all laughed. Brennan noticed. This poor kid tortured himself, sucking on a lemon, because he knew we would laugh! He'd bring it up sloooowly to his mouth, sit there for a minute - almost daring himself to eat it. Then he'd take a tiny lick! It was so cute! He's such a goofball. I realized this week, as I watched him run back and forth through the house, that the only thing I did NOT teach him how to do is RUN! He figured that one out all by himself, go figure! Also, it is very cute when one year olds run!
Our dossier iiiiisssss..... still not ready. Our fingerprint appointment is not until Dec. 30th. I've tried to get it moved up, but it hasn't worked out. I'm still hoping we will get one this week, when Ken is off work. It's very unlikely though. I've done everything except actually show up and demand a new appointment, which I am still tempted to do! They make it clear on their website that they will not do your prints if it is not your appoinment time. I don't know what else to do, except aquire some patience. HA. I'm hoping to get a lot done this week. With Ken home, we can go and get everything notarized, and he can help watch B so I can work on things. I am picking up our medical paperwork on Monday. We went to a new doctor, someone another adoptive mom reccommended, and they were great! Our doctor has adopted five children himself and was very helpful. He told us, the less we say, the better! As in, if we haven't had brain or heart surgery, we're good to go. :) So as long as we get the paperwork done right, we're done with that part!
I can't believe it is almost Christmas! Seriously, where did December go? I feel like I'm just hanging on to its coattails! It's been different this year, with my little guy 5300 miles from us. When I was shopping for Christmas presents, I'd see things and think, Oh Joshua would love this... but he's not here. I did buy him one thing - a shirt that says "Wonderfully Made". I couldn't resist! I just want to hold my tiny guy, and kiss him and snuggle. But we've still got months to go.
I've also really been struck by people's greed this year. I suppose that's normal, when your eyes have been opened to the 147 million children in the world who have no families to celebrate Christmas with this year. I sit quiet through conversations of what people are buying their kids this year, the "must haves". I change the TV station when they start talking about this year's hot toys. I cringe when I hear the kid in the store saying, "Dad, I need this", while holding an expensive toy. I want to shake them and say, "You don't know what NEED is!" I realize not everyone has a passion or desire or even awareness for the needy around us. Maybe that's the hardest part to stomach. There are just. so. many people who are "needy" this Christmas and every Christmas, and yet there are just. so. many people who blindly walk by and do nothing. It's something I really struggle with, because I know I can't tell everyone else that they must donate toys to kids, or donate to an orphan's grant, or even invite someone over who doesn't have anyone to spend Christmas with. But. I want to. I want them to see. For now, I will raise my children to know that we help others, and we give before we get. Because Jesus said so.
We sponsored two families for Christmas this year, although we weren't able to give a whole lot, 6 people have presents who didn't before! One of our families asked for steak knives. And forks.
I asked for a minivan.
Ok, the minivan was mostly to make my mom laugh. But really, forks! For Christmas! Not Ipads or a wii or {popular toy}. but forks.
They got some.
And more.
Merry Christmas.
12.09.2010
Fundraiser Success!
Our fundraiser was a success! Despite the snowstorm and bad roads, we raised around $1100! A lot of people didn't come because of the weather, but some of them donated to our FSP, and two people handed me money at church the following Sunday. I am blown away by the support we have received. It kinda feels like a kick in the stomach, but in a GOOD way. What would that be? Hmm...I'll think on that. It just amazes me how many people came – jumped – forward with auction donations, monetary donations, and verbal support. People I haven't heard from in years have contacted me to say what a wonderful thing we are doing and how blessed Littlekid will be! And it gives me a great opportunity to share about Reece's Rainbow and the fate of the children left behind. During our fundraiser, I gave a mini-speech before the concert. I hadn't really planned it out beforehand, and it probably would have been more coherent if I had. But I ended up crying while talking about the treatment of the kids in EE who have disabilities. About the institutions. I was MORTIFIED because I do. not. cry. especially in public, but I think it went over really well.
One of the best parts of the night was meeting two other kids from Littlekid's country! One little boy and his mommy live about a mile from us, and he came home at the beginning of the summer. And I got to meet a little girl who came home from Littlekid's orphanage a month ago. I was so happy to meet these kids and their mommies! I read their blogs and “knew” them online, but that's just not the same. My aunt said it makes it more “real”, and it really does. It's not just, someone Out There adopted. It's, Hey look at these cute kids, and I'm getting one soon too! And then it's, oh my goodness, I'm getting one of these soon! And I can't wait to hold him and love him, and fatten him up! Right now he's smaller than Brennan. Good news is, he'll be well-clothed with Brennan's outgrown clothes!
Speaking of Brennan, today he finally stood up all by himself! He started walking when he was 11 months old, but he couldn't get to a stand by himself, he had to pull up on something. This past week I have been working with him to get him to stand up on his own. He started bending over to the floor a few weeks ago, so I knew he was ready. I started by bracing his legs while he stood up, then his ankles. Then we moved to holding hands, and I would put my hands down on the floor and kind of boost him with his hands. Then finally today he did it all on his own, without falling over! He was just. so. cute. while we were teaching him. When he stood up, we'd clap and cheer, which B loves. So then he'd bend over and stand up again, and make us clap some more! What a ham. Also, Brennan LOVES running around Target. He takes off running and giggling and often throws his arms in the air. He'll start following any stranger who smiles at him! Today I brought cheerios with me and bribed him into following me. It kept him happy for about ten minutes. :)
Ken is playing a Wii Fit game that involves sitting still for several minutes. Seriously. I'm not even going to attempt that game!
One of the best parts of the night was meeting two other kids from Littlekid's country! One little boy and his mommy live about a mile from us, and he came home at the beginning of the summer. And I got to meet a little girl who came home from Littlekid's orphanage a month ago. I was so happy to meet these kids and their mommies! I read their blogs and “knew” them online, but that's just not the same. My aunt said it makes it more “real”, and it really does. It's not just, someone Out There adopted. It's, Hey look at these cute kids, and I'm getting one soon too! And then it's, oh my goodness, I'm getting one of these soon! And I can't wait to hold him and love him, and fatten him up! Right now he's smaller than Brennan. Good news is, he'll be well-clothed with Brennan's outgrown clothes!
Speaking of Brennan, today he finally stood up all by himself! He started walking when he was 11 months old, but he couldn't get to a stand by himself, he had to pull up on something. This past week I have been working with him to get him to stand up on his own. He started bending over to the floor a few weeks ago, so I knew he was ready. I started by bracing his legs while he stood up, then his ankles. Then we moved to holding hands, and I would put my hands down on the floor and kind of boost him with his hands. Then finally today he did it all on his own, without falling over! He was just. so. cute. while we were teaching him. When he stood up, we'd clap and cheer, which B loves. So then he'd bend over and stand up again, and make us clap some more! What a ham. Also, Brennan LOVES running around Target. He takes off running and giggling and often throws his arms in the air. He'll start following any stranger who smiles at him! Today I brought cheerios with me and bribed him into following me. It kept him happy for about ten minutes. :)
Ken is playing a Wii Fit game that involves sitting still for several minutes. Seriously. I'm not even going to attempt that game!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)