Sunday, October 28, 2007

African Children's Choir!


First off, I cannot figure out why "Blogger won't allow me to separate paragraphs, but you'll get by! We were lucky enough to experience the Children's Choir on Friday night. I found out about it sort of last minute and we literally ran to the building (after parking of course) because the streets were so full of parked cars! It's very difficult for me to put into words how I felt when we were there. It's more like a flood of words - that's probably the most accurate because that's how the emotions and feelings came at me. Of course my eyes welled up for the first five minutes and I felt sort of numb and tingly. It was magical (although 100 degrees in the auditorium) through and through and the children's spirit could be felt throughout the space. Their energy (spiritual, not physical) was exceptional. They were infectious to say the least and it was sad for me when it ended.
Michael was starving as it was 9:00 when it ended and he had raced home from work and we went straight there. I wanted so badly to hang around at the end, but we had to go get something to eat, and fast!
Their story was one of hope and life. It was simply beautiful. I don't know what else to say because if I try to put down all of my feelings and the meaning behind them, it would basically be a book.
I feel so utterly honored to soon be a parent of a child from Africa. Their souls were wide open and full of life. It made me a little anxious for the process to be faster, but I understand that our time will come - it will.
If anyone has the opportunity to see the concert, please go, you won't be sorry. I was very emotional to see the amazing outpouring of support by our community. I never expected so many people to attend and they just loved it. People were clapping and dancing and there were a few standing ovations! The awareness is happening, bit by bit, I can feel the changing winds for mother Africa.
Here is their itinerary for "The Journey of Hope Tour":

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Must, must, must!

We just returned home from seeing the African Children's Choir at Phillips Exeter Academy! What a wonderful experience - I will give a full post tomorrow, but I wanted to post something other than the last post I left earlier today. Just fabulous- I'm so excited for everything to come. Thanks to Emily at http://www.teamalexander.blogspot.com/ for reminding me of perspective tonight. If anyone has the opportunity to see the choir, it is a "must see". The itinerary calendar on their website is obviously wrong, I found out that they were going to be here through our local adoption network.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Today we got the call!

So I wish! Just kidding! I know it's not funny, but I wanted to know what it felt like to write that! I'm a sick-o, right! :)

Nothing to post, but wanted to throw something new on the blog today before we leave. We're going to take Nicholas to Polar Express IMAX today with Ya-Ya (my mom). Will post an update later tonight or tomorrow - something worth reading for the first time in a while, I promise!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

No more, taking one for the team...

First of all, I just love Sting and this song! No special meaning here or connection to the post. No faith has been lost! I just wanted to change songs without spending an hour trying to find a good one! :)

For any of you friends out there who've seen the last post, I removed it. I had hesitated about posting it to begin with and thought it might be fun to share my misery for the day. Well, I look worse today, but you'll never see. For those of you who hadn't read the last post, let's just say "it wasn't pretty". I had a laser treatment on my face which causes big red circles (bruising) that look quite unattractive. Kind of like someone used a bingo blotter on my face!
Anywho, the bruises will be gone in a week or two and I'll be very pleased to show the results.

The reason I took it down was because I had received a "not so nice" comment. It kind of hurt my feelings a little that someone I don't know and have never conversed with was willing to say something nasty to me. If I wasn't self concious about it enough, right!

I must admit that I will be a tad more guarded about my posts from now on. Please everyone, be polite and do as you were (hopefully) taught, "if you don't have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself". These adoption blogs were created to share our life, our journeys, our love and support for one another, not insults. Perhaps the person didn't intend to be so harsh, but coming from a complete stranger it is difficult to take it any other way.

Now, I will get off my soapbox, and put some soothing lotion of my facial burns. :)

Monday, October 22, 2007

Just waiting!

Well, here it is Monday again. I've been wanting to post, but honestly don't have anything to say. So, I'll at least write something as not to disappoint you friends out there that faithfully check our blog looking for updates. Gee, I wonder, perhaps it is "I" that is disappointed when I do my rounds and see no new posts! Umm, yeah, that more like it. So, anyway, I'll just write down my thoughts and feelings for today.

Okay, I'm sitting here ready to type and "I got nothin'!" This past weekend was great. We've been having such wonderful time on the weekends lately and I just love it. We went to breakfast with Grandpa on Saturday and then just the three of us went to the apple orchard for fun. Then we took a nice ride up the coast and sat on the beach for a bit, we picked up our new wine chiller for our soon to be new kitchen! And last but not least, we went to our favorite local "dive" for a Mexican feast, delicious! No wonder why I'm up and down with weight! Five weeks good, two weeks bad!

On a funny note... I'm debating posting a picture of me. Why debating you ask? If you could see me right now you'd know!! My face basically looks like hamburger (one side anyway). I was supposed to grocery shop today after several appointments and just couldn't. I look awful!

Darn it, I'm having trouble posting the picture! ;)
Details to come, let's just say that I'm thrilled that after today that I have no work appointments for the rest of this week! Phew!
Lot's of wonderful people are finally getting their travel dates and alot of people are getting referrals now that the Ethiopian Millennium and closed courts are done with!!! Woo Hoo! With these delays etc, we've had to kind of re-think our timeline. It's really looking more like we will not be getting a call before the end of this year. So, best guess, we'll be traveling spring/early summer. :( We'll see how quickly things move now that things are back on track, but I'm trying to be a realist here!!
Sorry nothing good or interesting to report! Let's see how things unfold in the next few weeks before throwing "the baby out with the bath water" time wise!

Monday, October 15, 2007

THE BIG BOY ROOM!




Here is the new "big boy room" and the old "guest room"! Now that Grandma and Grandpa are not in Syracuse anymore (5.5 hours away), we don't really need the guest room as much as before. This represents a huge step in my process. It is yet "one more step" to realizing that we're actually adding to our family. It isn't just paperwork, or blogging. It's real. I must admit though, it's going to be a few more steps before it becomes even more real.


Michael and I were talking the other day and I said to him that the actual moment of realization for me will probably be when the airline pilot comes over the system to announce to the attendants to prepare for landing and "welcome to Boston"! When we're on that plane getting ready to land is going to be the most exhausting and exhilarting moment I can imagine. Childbirth was just shear pain and fear! This will be an entire new set of emotions. Landing and seeing our family, pulling into our driveway, making breakfast the first morning, and tucking in the first night (either in our "den" or in their new room).... This is what I'm looking forward to the most at this moment.


And then, I'll be looking forward towards the familiarity of our new family. How things won't be "so special" needing to be photographed every second. I will then look forward to living our lives as a complete family. Nothing more, nothing less. Just living the American dream and being blessed by God every step of the way!


This is our future - hurry up and get here already!! :)


Thursday, October 11, 2007

I'm "IT"...

Thanks to Emily (soli deo gloria) for tagging me! Here goes:

Job's I've had:
1. Salad girl at a restaurant
2. Fitting room attendant
3. Bank Teller
4. Kitchen Designer (16 years and counting)

Places I've lived (some):
1. Dorchester, MA
2. Exeter, NH
3. Hampstead, NH
4. Sandown, NH

Food I love (I love food and hate to leave out so many):
1. Mexican (too bad you're so far Em')
2. Meatballs (only my own - to die for)
3. Spaghetti and Zucchini (zucc. fried- sounds strange but it's awesome)
4. All around favorite (my jeans hate me for it).... FRENCH FRIES!

Places I'd rather be:
1. Disney with my family!
2. Vacation anywhere with my family
3. California (Napa/Sonoma)
4. Last but NOT least, Ehtiopia (airport headed home with our bundle)

Movies I love:
1. Terms of Endearment (Aurora Greenway - the ultimate performance)
2. The Bicycle Thief (Italian w/subtitles)
3. Heartburn (or anything Meryl Streep)
4. American Beauty (or anything Kevin Spacey) (I seem to have a dark side looking back at this list)

T.V. show I love: (doesn't exactly match the serious list above)
1. Reality, I know, I'm a reality whore; Bachelor,Survivor,So... Can Dance, Dance w/Stars..etc.
2. Damages
3. Rescue Me (this past season was not so great)
4. Boston Legal

Books I love:
1. Anything conservative politics (several)
2. What to expect "the first year" (critical to Nick's first year)
3. There is no me without you
4. Anything cooking or decorating related (several)

People I'm tagging:
1. Tara
2. Danni
3. Karen
4. Betthany & Jeff

Well, that about it! I've been waiting for the final touches on Nick's room to take pictures and do my next post, but I'm anxious to post so I might do one after dinner!

Friday, October 5, 2007

Calling all "serial bloggers" (like me)...

I'm checking your blogs every day and am not seeing updates as often as we'd all like! Don't pretend you don't know what I mean ya'll! When I do "rounds" (daily these days), I expect to see something new on the blogs, and get no satisfaction! So, everyone get typing! :) Just kidding, well, sort of...

THE COURTS HAVE RE-OPENED!!