Life Sucks

Just a quick note - my dad passed away unexpectedly. We are headed up to NY on Wednesday and I will return on the 16th.

Promised Pictures!!

Did you miss me?

So...I haven't been around much lately. I've stopped by everyone's blog, even left a few comments, but I haven't been blogging much myself. I decided to take a small break and try to get my perspective back about the adoption.

I've missed our 11th and ONE YEAR LID anniversary. Since one year really means nothing in the wait for our daughter I couldn't see celebrating it as a milestone. We probably have 2 more years left if truth be told. Do I like that, HELL NO!! But there is nothing I can do about it short of just pulling our dossier from China and let me tell you something folks, that is NOT going to happen!! Oh, we did fill out the medical checklist our agency has and we have been approved to adopt a special needs child. That line is still 6 to 8 months long.

What else has been going on in my neck of the woods? Lets see, T's girlfriend graduated this year, and L graduated from middle school this year. That means that next year and next year only my 2 boys will be going to the same school!! One will be a senior and the other one a freshman!! I think L is excited about going to high school. T is playing Legion ball again this year and L is on a 14-15 team. In fact this week we have a ball game every night.

I think we've actually talked my dad into moving down here!! This will be so good for him. Ever since momma died last November he has been lonely. My wonderful (said with sarcasm dripping off my lips) brother hasn't visited him in freaking months and won't because, and I quote, "Gas is too expensive". He lives around 2 hours away. Ok, whatever. Get a life bro and grow up will ya??!!!!

Anyway, we are looking for a house for him. Keep your fingers crossed!

I have some pictures of T's prom, graduation, concerts, swimming, blowing bubbles, and baseball that I'll put up shortly. Like I said, this week we are out every night and won't be in until 10:30 or later so it probably won't be this week...unless I blog at work!!

Thanks for the notes, both on the blog and by email. You are all sweet. I know we are all in this wait together and that really helps!!

WW

Pictures

Here are some pictures I've taken over the last few weeks. The first set is celebrating K's birthday - she is getting soooo old!! The next are pictures of my Jazzy. She is my princess. Finally there is a set of L and his baseball. He is in the eight grade and growing up quickly. I'll add some pictures of T playing ball soon. Oh and I've also added some of my neighbor's little girl. She is so photogenic and I love taking her picture!!

New Look!!

Sara over at Our Not-So-Patient Wait blinged my blog. I think she did a fabulous job, don’t you??!! If you want your blog blinged just send her an email and she’ll be glad to help you out.


Thank you so much Sara!!! This is wonderful!!

WW

Things I'm Thankful For

I belong to CHP. It’s a group of moms who blog, share ideas, chat, and have fun. One of the things they do is a weekly giveaway. I’ve never participated before but this one caught my eye. It’s about things we are thankful for. With the stress at the job, a friend leaving to go to a new job, China taking forever, and my mom dying this past November this will be a great time to think of the things I am thankful for.



One thing I am thankful for is my husband. He is my best friend, my lover, my supporter, my devil’s advocate, my everything. He is the best dad, staying involved in the boys’ sports to the extreme of coaching, helping to start a booster club, and being president of the baseball association for our area. (Trust me folks – that last one – wow, you just wouldn’t believe the phone calls he would get starting in January and not ending until September or October!!) I’m so thankful he came into my life that morning almost 23 years ago!!



Another thing I am thankful for are my boys. They are 14 and 17 and keep me very busy. They push me to keep up with them, get on my last nerve, drive me crazy with their antics, gang up on me, then tell me they love me at the end of the day. What more could a mom ask for?? They are so different in their personalities and looks yet so like their dad and me it’s scary. I’m thankful for the times they snuck into my room to sleep with me, for the little hugs I get and even for the cold water poured on me while I’m in the shower prank!! My life would be so boring without these two guys.



Since I started writing this I didn’t realize how many things I actually have to be thankful for! I could probably write a book on them. Take the slow down for referrals from China. What you ask? You’re thankful for the slowdown you ask? Yes! I know I gripe about it, I moan about it, I even cry about it but I’m still thankful for it. Without this wait I wouldn’t have been able to rekindle my friendship with some people. Without this wait I wouldn’t have been able to take the time with my youngest son and help him grow. I wouldn’t have been able to spend as much time with my neighbors getting to know them better. The possibility of a new job, meeting new people who are adopting, learning more about China, secret pals, learning how to knit – all of that would never have been done. This wait, this 2 or more year wait bothers me and I really can’t stand it but I’m thankful for it all the same.



My friends, my dogs, my house, my BED, my sister, my dad, the air I breathe, the food I eat. I’m thankful for all of these, from the mundane like my comfy shoes to the more profound like life itself. What are you thankful for?

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Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mom's 69th birthday. I miss her still every. single. day. There are times when I go to the phone to call her and then remember I can't - she's not there. I'll call my dad tonight to see how he is doing - I'm sure it was (is) a rough day for him.

Happy Birthday Mom!! I Miss You!!! I Love You!!!

WW

WW

Wordless Wednesday

My Mother's Daughter

(It seems I posted this to my "TO DO" blog instead of this one...)

I had to go shopping the other night and decided to go to Wally world even though I despise the place. I left home around 7:00 and spent the next 2 and ½ hours looking around. That’s 2 ½ hours folks!!! What did I come home with? Some deodorant, some material for the quilt, a shoe rack and ….that’s it!!! I didn’t even think about it until I went to lunch this afternoon with my dh and my youngest son who, by the way, just turned 14! We were at B-52’s eating some wings and the conversation went something like this:

Dh: So, what time did you get home last night?
Me: Umm..around 9:30 – you were sleeping.
Dh: Yep, I got tired of waiting.
Me (looking at his face and knowing something is up): What, is there a problem?
Dh: no, no, what did you buy?
Me (becoming more paranoid): Some material, deodorant, and a shoe rack. Why?
Dh (starting to laugh): Oh, nothing. (snort…laugh…snort) And what time did you leave?
Me (becoming irrated): you know what time I left – it was 7:00!

At this point L is starting to laugh and I have absolutely no clue what is so funny.

DH (who is grinning from ear to ear): And you got home at 9:30 and all you bought was some deodorant, fabric, and a shoe rack….
Me (staring at him like a deer in headlights): so?
Dh: And you spent over 2 hours….(L is laughing so hard he is about to fall over)….and all you bought…
Me: OMG!!!! OMG!!!! I’m my mother’s daughter!!!! OMG!!!!

It would drive me crazy when I went shopping with my mom. Even if we went for something simple like milk it would take HOURS because she had to look at everything……

School Buses

Let’s talk about school buses, shall we? School buses are an evil necessity in most communities to transport children to and from school and school events. Most of them are driven by people who care about the kids and their safety. There are some that drive them because it is a paycheck but I’ll give most of them the benefit of a doubt and say most do care. So, why do I want to talk about school buses?? Let me tell you!



Here’s the scene. I’m driving to work this morning. I usually try to get in at 7:00 but this week it’s been more like 7:30. Traffic at this time of the morning is starting to get heavy but not too bad. I drive on country roads and it takes around 45 minutes to get to work. So, here I am cruising along, listening to NPR (news radio), when I go around a bend and have to slow waaaay down. Why? You all know why. There is a line of cars behind this school bus that is putt putting at a measley 35 mph. I am probably the 20th car so there is no chance to pass. The freaking 20th car!!! The part of the drive to work that I am on does not have houses so why won’t this dumb a$$ bus driver pull over and let all these cars by? I just don’t understand it. Growing up in central NY I remember having to pull over all the time to let just 2 cars by. This is something that they STILL do. Why can’t our bus drivers do this? Wouldn’t it be safer to allow these cars to pass unobstructed in their driving lane than to make them pass in the other lane, taking chances? I just don’t understand the mentality of this state that I live in!



Do your school bus drivers pull over to let you pass?

Wordless Wednesday

Two Time Conference Champ!!

Even with his knee and MRSA T worked hard and became conference champion Saturday!! His team also did well and pulled out an upset against their rival by winning the conference championship also. We are so proud of these boys and their hard work. Next comes regionals and then state. Go EDUB!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, so we hit 8 months yesterday. I’m going to keep thinking that we will have little one home by Christmas 2007. I’m going to put my fingers in my ears and not listen to RQ or anyone else. I know China won’t let the wait get to 2 years. I just have a gut feeling about it. I believe the longest wait that has been in China’s history is 16 months.



8 months logged in and 10 months to go. 10 months you say? Yep, that’s what I’m hoping for at least. We’ll see……

Random Thoughts

Hmmm…yesterday sure was a pity party for me day!! I was cheered up by my CCAI Secret pal gift!! It is a wonderful book filled with pictures about China!! I just love it. J (who is going with us) is going to borrow it also. Thank you so much SP!! As usual, you rock!



On to my crafty projects. I’ve started the bear and have actually finished the body. It looks funny though, kind of lopsided. Maybe it will look better after I do the arms tonight. I also want to start the clown and I’ve found a project for the pig.



Talking about pigs, I’m seeing where people are saying this is the year of the golden pig. I’ve read where this only happens every 600 years. This legend says if a child is born in the year of the golden pig she will experience a prosperous and wealthy life. Some are saying that this is the year of the Fire Pig. In fact, there is more evidence that this is the year of the Fire Pig so that is what I’m going by. The pig is the last sign of the zodiac the pig represents “resignation” accepting human nature as it is – content to live and let live.



I got in the car this morning and one of my fav songs was on – Paradise by the Dashboard Lights by Meat Loaf.



Went to lunch today with some friends. Had a hamburger – there goes the diet!! Lots of stuff going down around work that I can’t write about. Suffice it to say that we don’t know where we’ll be a year from now. Ugh!!!!



Did I mention that I’m tired of waiting??!!



Check out this video – it is performed by 21 dancers who are all deaf. The video link below shows members of the Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe doing a beautiful dance, called the Thousan-Hand Guanyin. All of the 21 dancers are deaf, relying only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage. It's lead dancers is Tai Lihua, who has a BA from the Hubei Fine Arts Institute. The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival last year.








If you look over at the links you’ll see a picture with the words “Wordless”. I’ve decided to do Wordless Wednesdays (ww). Click on the picture and you can also sign up for ww. I think this will be fun and at least I’ll have to post each Wednesday!!




One more thing – I want to see our daughter’s face!!!!!!