To Our Soldiers...

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

~ Aurthur Ashe

On this day I thank you all for your courage, commitment and sacrifice to our great country. You are not forogtten but in our our hearts and prayers daily.

May God bless and protect you until you can come home.

Happy Memorial Day...

Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Heartfelt Sympathy...

My heart and prayers go out to the Chapman family for the loss of their daughter.

Words seem an inadequate comfort during this time. Praying that they are surrounded by comfort and peace. That soon memories of this child will cease to bring pain and will instead bring a smile to their lips and joy to their hearts.

Me Thinking About the Wait......

The picture says it all...

Worth Waiting For Swap....

We did a Ladybug, Dragonfly, and Panda swap this month. I received my package on Friday. Inside was a ladybug discovery book, a love bug hooded bath towel, a ladybug sun hat, and cute ladybug necklace, earrings and pin set. Thanks Janice, your gift came at just the right time!

Look at all the goodies!

Close up the ladybug jewelry

A Little Rant and Retail Therapy...

I’ve been trying to decide if I should write this post for the last few weeks. What finally prompted me to do it is that many of you reading this are in the same boat as I am. The wait to bring your daughter home occasionally wears you down. It unexpectedly, or not so unexpectedly, slams into you with the force of a fist slamming into your chest. So if you don’t want to read my little rant you can stop here.

Lately, I’ve been having a difficult time dealing with the wait and all it entails. I'm weary. Weary of waiting, weary of wondering, and weary of this little ache that seems like it just won't go away. How do you answer the question “What’s going on with China? Why is it taking so long?” How do I answer that question when I don’t know have the answer? I don't know how to explain it. I know everyone who is asking does so because they genuinely care. Most, if not all, of them are waiting for her to come home too. This year preparing for Mothers day made me so sad and I haven’t been able to shake it. Despite my best efforts not to go "there." This is the 5th mothers day that has come and gone since we decided to expand our family. I have that small sad feeling. The one that brings tears to your eyes that you can’t actually let fall. Then doubt and frustration get their nasty little hooks into me and won't let go. I have that "why not me attitude" and it's hard to shake. Then I feel guilty for feeling that way because I know I should be living life to the fullest. But at the same time I feel like I can’t because our family isn't complete yet. I know that I have been blessed beyond measure with the family, friends, and life I already have. It's a double-edged sword isn't it? Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t given up hope I’ve just hit a roadblock. I feel like one of those little toy cars that just keeps running into the wall. Anyway, sorry for the rant but if you've read this far thanks for letting me vent.

Now for the retail therapy part... I’m not much of a shopper but while I was out shopping for Mothers day I found some things I couldn't resist. Macy's was having a great sale. Check out these little dresses I picked up for our little one to be. My friend Jeni also contributed with the little bathing suit. Thanks Jeni, love ya!

ps. Jami, since I sent you the same dress (right side) for our spring bling swap maybe one day we can exchange pictures of the girls in their little dresses?!?!

Bush Gardens...

We went to Bush Gardens a couple of weeks ago with our nieces, Samantha and Alyssa (oh yea, Jeff and Danielle went to :o) We did both big and little kid rides, and enjoyed a nice lunch. It was a nice afternoon... thanks for coming with us guys!

Congratulations Lynn & Mark...

Two tiny feet, That wave in the air...

Two tiny hands, That tug at your hair..

And an adorable little face,

A bundle of joy to love & embrace.

Welcoming Mallorie Ann Vivirito
Born May 12, 2008

Happy Mothers Day...

Mother...

You filled my days with rainbow lights,

Fairytales and sweet dream nights,

A kiss to wipe away my tears,

Gingerbread to ease my fears.

You gave the gift of life to me

And then in love, you set me free.

I thank you for your tender care,

For deep warm hugs and being there.

I hope that when you think of me

A part of you You'll always see.

~Author Unknown~

Wishing all you moms and moms to be a happy Mothers Day!

Congratulations to those who received referrals...

Hope you are celebrating receiving your referrals. Wishing you speedy and safe travels!

20 Months LID...

Long wait ahead...

Wish I had something witty to say but right now the wait is once again wearing me down.

Happy Birthday Joshua...

Josh, I can't believe you are 5 already. You have brought so much joy and laughter into our lives. We love you more every day. Happy Birthday buddy!

Spring Bling Exchange...

Our ladybug group did a spring bling exchange this month. My bling buddy was Sherry. She sent us a cute little spring outfit including 2 skirts with matching ponytail holders and socks, a ladybug farm, and a ladybug water toy. Now all I need is the baby!

Thanks Sherry, I loved everything :o)

March '08 Secret Pal Gift...

Our March secret pal theme was travel. My pal sent me the above travel pod which includes a pacifer pod, bottle pod, and diaper and wipe pod. I love the pink and brown colors together. Thanks secret pal you did it again!

Whew....

this sums up my week perfectly! Have a great weekend everyone!

Muppet Personality Test...

My friend Jessica sent tagged me for this one. Let me know which muppet you are by posting a comment...

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

What this means to us...

We are now 270 (including weekends) or 171 (without weekends) LID days away from being matched. I wish I could say that the number of days is all that matters but I can't. As you all know it's currently taking several months to get through one month of LID dates. Praying for a speed up as the CCAA hits some of those smaller LID months.

Hang in there everyone, despite the snails pace we are on our way!

CCAA Site Updated...

Referrals have been issued for those with LID's of January 5-9, 2006.

Congratulations to all those who have received their referrals this month,

your almost there!

19 Months...

and waiting and waiting. One more month down, many more to go sums it up about right. Congrats to all those who have also made it through yet another month too.

Easter Dinner...

Here are some pictures of our Easter dinner at Matt's mom's house.

We had a lot of fun with our nieces, Sam and Alyssa.

Thanks Joan for such a nice family dinner!

Winter Vacation

Here are some of the pictures of our February trip to Prior Lake. We spent a lot of time on either ice skating, playing hockey (the guys anyway) or watching a big pond hockey tournament. The little guy in red is Zach, can't you tell he like playing in the snow too! We had a great time spending time with Brian and his family. Thanks guys, we will see you soon!

Happy Easter...

Wishing you the beauty of spring

and the spirit of love this Easter...

Have a blessed and wonderful weekend!

He is Risen...

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.
~Robert Flatt

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

A St. Patrick's Day Wish For You

May your life be long

May your heart be true

May your path be clear

and your skies be blue
May your soul be happy

and your spirit light

May you know deep joy

May your dreams take flight

May God bless you on this special day and always!

Secret Pal Gifts...

My August/September group does a secret pal swap every other month. The theme for February was books. I got the cutest books from my pal.

Check them out...

Thanks secret pal you did a great job again!

Year of the Rat Swap...

We did a Year of the Rat swap in my Worth Waiting for group. The participants were supposed to pick out things with rats or mice to celebrate the year of the rat. Thank you Connie Davis and family for by adorable Minnie outfit, panda and take&toss cups.

Lily loved it too, so much I had a hard time getting her off of it, lol!

Logged in...

and counting...

Congratulations to those who received referrals...

You have almost completed this long journey to your child.

Wishing you safe travels and wonderful "Gotcha" days!

Hello Jussi, Jeff and Mike...

Jussi Jokinen - Winger

Jeff Halpern - Center

Mike Smith - Goalie


Welcome to the Tampa Bay Lightning guys... Good luck!

Goodbye Brad...

As most of you know (or should I say those of you that follow hockey) the Lightning have traded center Brad Richards to the Dallas Stars for goalie Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern, and winger Jussi Jokinen. Brad was picked up by the Lightning in 1998 as a rookie.

While we will miss Brad the Lightning just could not afford his salary of $7.8 million against the cap any longer. It is with mixed emotions we as fans say goodbye to one the guys that has been such a big part of our team.


Goodbye Brad and the best if luck with the Stars!

I've Been Tagged...

I've been tagged by Jessica. This is a book tag! I love to read although starting today most of the reading I will be doing going forward will be for school. Yes, I am torturing myself and taking the last four classes I need to complete my degree. Anyway, here it goes...

Here is how it works.
1. Pick the nearest book that has 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next 3 sentences.
5. Tag 5 people.

The book that is the closest to me is, Double Cross by James Patterson (unless you count the text book I'm reading for homework).

The fifth sentence on page 123: "That was a relief to hear."

Next 3 sentences ~ "Thanks for saying that chief. I guess I'll keep offering, then." "Please do."

Hmmm...let me see, who can the next lucky tag victims be... I choose Angie, Robin, Ruth, Leslie, and Pam. Get those reading glasses on ladies, lol!

Don't You Just Feel This Way Sometimes?

Me too...

(loved this picture, he just looks so frustrated, lol)

Thanks Kelly B. !!

I received the most thoughtful package in the mail from my fellow ladybug, Kelly B., on Tuesday. In it was a very sweet note of encouragement and the bib above. It came at just the right time, I was sick and moping about thinking about the wait. Isn't it just the cutest bib? She made the ladybug applique. I can't wait to see our daughter in it :o)

Thanks Kelly, I am so grateful for your friendship and generosity!

Happy Birthday...

to my sister-in-law Jennifer and my brother Steve.

Their birthdays are Wednesday and Friday respectively.

Hope all your birthday wishes come true!

We'll get together and celebrate when we get back....

Leaving on a jet plane...

tomorrow morning we are headed off for a long weekend in the winter wonderalnd of MN. The weather guesstimate currently has the tempature for the day at high of 16 and a low of -13 with snow showers. Why would we want to take off for the hinterlands? It's simple, for us southerners a "real" winter will be a great change of pace and allow us to play in the snow once this year.

Have a great weekend and check back next week for pictures :o)

Happy Valentines Day!

Love is....

Love is the greatest feeling,

Love is like a play,

Love is what I feel for you,

Each and everyday,

Love is like a smile,

Love is like a song,

Love is a great emotion,

That keeps us going strong.

I love you with my heart,

My body and my soul,

I love the way I keep loving,

Like a love I can't control,

So remember when your eyes meet mine,

I love you with all my heart,

And I have poured my entire soul into you,

Right from the very start.

- by Meghan -

Matt, I love you more every year, happy Valentines day!

Hope everyone has a great valentines day with your loved ones!

17 Months Down....

Our paperwork has been officially been logged in with China for 17 months as of 2/5/08. We are now one month past our original worse case scenario of 16 months. One more down and ???? to go... Pass the cookies!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Wishing you all a prosperous and happy New Year!

Congratulations...

to all those families who have received their referral or made it through review this month. Your are one step closer to your little ones, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Our agency has updated their site to provide the information formerly in the CCAA box ~

"The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents

registered with the CCAA office before October 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of the children for families whose application

documents were registered with the CCAA office before December 27, 20."

At least this month includes a few more days. We are currently 253 LID days away from being matched. If you take out weekends (both Saturday and Sundays) we are only 183 days away. I like that number better yet it still feels so far away. In the end there is nothing to do but wait, hope, dream, repeat...

2008 Year of the Rat

1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

The Year of the Rat (February 2, 2008- January 25, 2009) marks the beginning of a new cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar. Each year of the 12 years in the cycle is named for an animal - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. According to legend, the animals raced across a river to determine their order in the cycle. The rat crossed the river by riding on the back of the ox, jumping ahead at the last minute to win the race.

People born in the year of a particlar animal are said to share characteristics with that animal. You are imaginative, charming, and truly generous to the person you love. However, you have a tendency to be quick-tempered and overly critical. You are also inclined to be somewhat of an opportunist. Born under this sign, you should be happy in sales or as a writer, critic, or publicist. Some Rats: Charlotte Bronte, Truman Capote, Catherine I, Mata Hari, Wolfgang Mozart, William Shakespeare, George Washington.

For 2008...

To all my friends who sent me best wishes in 2007,
or promises of good luck if I forwarded something; it did NOT WORK.

For 2008, could you please just send either money,
chocolate or gasoline vouchers.

Thank you!

I'm with Calvin...

Sometimes I live in a state of denial (for a larger image click on the cartoon)!

For more Calvin go here~
25 Great Calvin and Hobbes Strips.

Enjoy!

Awesome quote...

Blood may be thicker than water, but love is thicker than anything.

~Goldie Nash

I thought that this was an awesome quote. Someone at my office brought me this Dear Abby column today. In short it is about someone not including an adopted child in family photos. I have to admit I was a little upset when I read this. My heart broke for that child. Who could be so unconcerned with hurting a childs feelings? Biology does not mean that you will or won't be a better parent, what matters the most is the love and care that you provide your child. Sometimes you have to wonder what makes people tick!

My favorite comic strip...

I love this comic strip! Calvin is such a little terror ;o)

16 Months LID and STILL counting...

and waiting, and counting, and waiting....

like the picture up on the right corners says -

Wait, hope, dream, repeat...

Congratulations to those who received referrals...

Congratulations to all those who have received their long awaited referrals. Wishing you all speedy travel arrangements and wonderful "gotcha" days!

To the rest of us... sending you all warm thoughts as we continue on this long, long journey. I know despite our excitement for those who have received their referrals these days bring sadness and disappointment to many of us. Wishing each of you fortitude, strength, and grace during the wait this year.

Keep the faith our time will come...