1971

And one night, early on in this year, Dannie and Paul went to a Three Dog Night concert... nine months later....

Mind you, I didn't exactly look like the picture above right out of the womb, but I didn't feel like digging for more than five minutes for a picture of me as a baby!

Some Neat Facts:

• Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 890
• Average Cost of new house $25,250.00
• Average Income per year $10,600.00
• Average Monthly Rent $150.00
• Cost of a gallon of Gas 40 cents
• Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00
• United States postage Stamp 8 cents
• Ladies 2 piece knit suites $9.98
• Movie Ticket $1.50

And... on 12-29 little miss Genovese was born! Thanks Mom and Dad!

BETHANY AND JEFF!!

There aren't words to express how it feels when when of your BBF's (best blog friends) gets her/their referral. I experienced it with Danni, and now Bethany!

I am still in utter shock and couldn't be happier!!! Perfect timing, perfect little boy! Yay to the Gurske's - We all love you and cannot wait to finish the journey to your son with you! Everyone is looking for details!!!! Especially name??!!

Sorry!

Nothing to post yet, still on the mend from a delightful (ha) stomach flu since Christmas day!
But, I HAD to get rid of the last post and music as everything Christmas related has been removed from our house, and now blog... Will update soon with the "non" events happening in good ole NH!

Merry Christmas!

Fought off "The Funk"!

First off, thanks so much to all of my adoring fans... Oh, wait, wake up Lor, your totally dreaming...........

But seriously, thanks to all of you for sending such positive thoughts and words my way! I don't know how I'd get through this without the support that I've received! Truly.

My mother and Nicholas and I went out for lunch yesterday before Nick and I headed to Wally World to get some important items to make peanut butter balls! YUM!

We were going to go for Mexican (my fav.) but they were closed for lunch - my jeans are somewhat smiling, but, not completely as I'm 10lbs. overweight right now. I chalk it up to pseudo pregnancy right?! So, if I ever do get an elliptical machine, look out world! (never happen - I loath any type of exercise unless I'm skinny and in a routine).... So, I'm off track here again! We went to a close by Chinese rest. because they have a wonderful buffet at lunch. Nice and clean, modern, with lot's to pick from. Michael hates Chinese food so I only get to have it a couple of times a year (probably a good thing).

As some of you super sleuths may have put the pieces together already, these are the two fortunes that Nicholas and I received at the end of our meal. As I wasn't 100% sure what to make of them at the time I just kind of looked at my mom with my eyebrows up and lip corners turned down, (expression of "hey, who knows, maybe something soon"). So, wouldn't you know, about three seconds later a little boy (around 5) goes running by our table towards the buffet. Big deal right? He caught my attention, I looked back down at my plate, thought for a second, and then looked back up at him. He was obviously ET (according to my educated eyes)! I couldn't stop staring at him to try and figure out if that was really the case or not. Let me back up by saying that I live in NH folks, we are not as diversified as I would like. In my graduating class in high school (year not important, but a biggie anniversary coming up) there was only one black student. Probably 3 or 4 in the entire school! So, it is unusual to see a black child with a white parent in our area (soon to be changed - Thank God). My mother looked up at me and we had an exchange of glances to say, "this is a sign"! We left it at that and I pondered approaching the woman and her two children but thought otherwise when it was apparent that she was a bit overwhelmed and perhaps a bit "grumpy grippits" as Nicholas would phrase it!

Fast forward to today.. Crazy snow again - we got almost a foot of snow just today and when I returned home from morning things, I realized that I'd better at least clear the end of the driveway as the plows were really closing us in (even though we're on a cul-de-sac)! So, me and Snoop Dog headed out for some shovelin' at the mailbox! While I was down there (huffing and puffing way too soon), I looked up at my dear Snoop Dog who was sitting squarely in the middle of the driveway as not to get too close to the electric fence sensors... He was looking, or staring I should say at the Boxford Pear trees in the yard. I didn't think much of it until I needed to take another breather and stop shoveling for a second. As I stopped shoveling and gasping for air, a loud noise came to my attention. But it was strange and not expected... for goodness sake, it's a darn blizzard over here (I thought). What I heard was birds singing! Not just like a chirp in the distance, but several. I looked up right in front of me where the eight trees sort of edge the front property and was astounded! The moment that I looked up, about 100 small little birdies came out of the trees and swooped down over me, then they glided over snoopy and back to the trees again. This may sound creepy to read, but it was magnificent to say the least. It happened several more times after that as I just stood there looking up at them chirping and singing. I smiled so big, and at this point the shovel was on the ground. I couldn't believe the sounds and the feeling in the middle of the storm. And they weren't at anyone else's house. After a few minutes they all flew away and I never saw them since all afternoon.

What does that tell me/us? Sweet Emily, she is so insightful and her timing hit me perfectly. She just posted about how God Is In the Details a couple of days ago. When I read her post I loved the "coincidences" that things in D.C. seemed to bring to her life... They aren't merely coincidence are they? They are signs and messages. Sometimes they are very clear, and sometimes very subtle. Sometimes they are just a mere reminder!

Something big is happening right now. I know this as fact. It is for either MP and I, or what I truly believe, it's for someone close to me. Em', or Bethany, I hope so badly it's for one of you. This is my Christmas wish. This is My Christmas Wish!

I am so thankful for my family and friends (new and old) that are here to welcome our new babe to our tiny little part of the earth! Everyone, please say a special prayer for Emily and Bethany that they receive their referral very soon! You guys are just too awesome (not to mention my other friends who've already rec'd their ref. and court date, ehhmm DANNI & TOMMY)!

I feel something is on the horizon, tomorrow perhaps? We can pray and hope!

Adoption FUNK!

I don't know where I'm at today.... I've been very emotional lately and I think it's for a whole host of reasons. Ever feel like you on the brink of crying at every turn of your day? Or, if you're me, you cry at every turn of your day over anything, I should rephrase the word cry to "well up"! Well, for me the main two reasons are;

1. Christmas. It always seems to make me the most "tender". I always tear up just shopping and looking at people and wondering about their life. Sound stupid? Probably is! I've always had an overactive imagination - I become overwhelmed with emotions, good emotions, not bad ones about being thankful and grateful and just plain happy to be alive... It makes me mushy! For anyone who reads this that knows me (and hardly any of those closest to me read this so it will fly) will think I'm lying about being sentimental because that's not the side I often am in the presence of others except for Michael. I'm typically the funny, sarcastic, and dry one in the room.

2. I feel that our family isn't complete. Even though my sweet little babe Nick is my everything, just knowing that the final piece to our family is accross the world somewhere is starting to really take some of my enthusiasm for Christmas away.

It feels like I'm just trying to "get through the holidays" and have them be done with. I don't want to be like that because it's my favorite time of year, but I can't help it. It's kind of like going through the motions but really secretly wanting January to get here so we're closer to our referral.

It also doesn't help that I really don't think it's going to be anytime soon. That would be fine except when we started this process we were expecting to be home by Christmas with our little one. We had since resigned ourselves to thinking Jan/Feb. referral, but, to be honest, I really don't see that happening. Our agency seems to be just so dragging behind everyone else. It just doesn't make sense, but it is what it is. Why aren't all the other agencies having the backlog issues from the court closing and the red tape issues that ours seems to be having?? I'm just venting here, not really looking for answers because there are none.

And here's the real raw gut truth about my feelings at this point...I'm not looking for sympathy or advice because I already know it all... I know that it will come, I know that he/she is going to be here before we know it, but for right now, this minute, this day, this week, it's hard being normal when you know that your babe might be hungry right now. It's tough wrapping presents when you know the heartbreak that your babe's family may be going through having just given up or planning on giving up their child. And it's hard walking by an empty room that we can't prepare or decorate because we don't even have a gender (this is the selfish one). It's just plain hard to think of any more time going by without them here as part of our family, bonding with us and making our first memories together. Next year will be lightyears away from this Christmas. I have not forgotten that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ and what a gift that was for me and mankind.

I'm just sharing with you my randowm thoughts and I know that it will pass, but for now, I am sad for our little babe... and us.

Next post will be different - I promise! :)

The Parkers take on Chicago!

John Hancock Tower, it was so overcast that day when we reached the top 96th floor, we were literally "in the clouds"! So, the views weren't great, but every now and then the clouds would blow by and we'd get a quick peek at the city below!

Michael is absent from the few pictures I took because the two that were taken at the party on my phone weren't saved for lack of memory - the company had some taken of the two of us, so hopefully I'll get my hands on them at some point!

No description needed here. This is pretty much the only store we could afford to shop at! The handbags in Neiman Marcus were on clearance for $2-3k each! And they were thrown on a table marked clearance as if they were junk and priced at $20.00 or less!

This is Dean, a co-worker and friend of Michael's - We were treated like kings and had a very nice time away together. I wish I could make my devil eye's go away!

I will stop stalking blogs! All is well when I leave!

Since being away in Chicago (great trip) and having my computer crash, erasing everything (I mean everything) off it, and having to back up all my data and re-install every single program I have on it, you will notice that I haven't stalked or posted. It's been killing me because a couple of times when it was working, I'd get glimpses of what was going on! And let me tell ya, alot has been going on in the adoption bloggie world to celebrate over!

Congratulations to Jocelyn for getting her referral to baby Pacey! She is gorgeous!

Congratulations to Erica and David for getting their referral to their son - I can't wait to hear more.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Baker for taking their leap of faith and finding their baby bear. A sweet little boy who I can't wait to learn more about.

Congratulations to Timm & Jennifer for getting through the court and officially being parents.

What wonderful news for you all - it truly warms my heart!!!!!

And I'm off!

Off to the Windy City for a couply of days - details to follow!
In the meantime, I will not be able to stalk blogs ;( , but please do the test and post your scores!

Second chances are sometimes a necessity!

I did this as a post wayyyy back in July and it was a flop!! Well, my sister and her boyfriend obliged! Jim, we all remember that you scored highest, blah, blah, blah, but I wasn't tooooo far behind ya!

Click on this link to get right to the test! To be serious for a second, there's a ton of wonderful information about each country etc. to learn about too.

It's a nice little distraction for all of us out here "waiting" (which I think should really be called OTV-OAB, On The Verge Of A Breakdown). Perhaps I could simplify the acronym if I spent more time thinking about it, but I'm too busy "waiting" and "blogging" to bother!

Take the test and post your scores - the winner will get a prize. If you actually believe that, then I also want you to make a wish, send me lots of cash, and your wish will come true. I'm sorry, no prize is involved other than being able to be a big bragger in the blog world and a smart-y-pants! I will also pay a big tribute to you on my blog about you and your "smartness". Oh, boy, I'm getting punchy - not good. Better stop writing now!

Snowing again!

I just took these! Isn't Snoopy adorable? Love Him!

You can leave me/us a gift if you wish!

This is not "real", don't worry, no actual gifts are being given! It's just a cute fun thing I found on Erica and David's blog! Thanks for letting me steal it!! My goal is to get more than one gift! And the first one I gave to myself. I know I have a couple regular readers on here, so please ladies, it's Christmas, don't be cheap. ;)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

This is not today, but a picture from an ice storm we had earlier this year! Makes you cold just looking at it huh?!? Brrrrr.... Those trees are bent over from being completely covered in ice.

It's snowing like crazy and it's sooo beautiful (and cold)! How I wish my camera was fixed!

Since I've had so many car issues in the past year-ish, I went and got a brand a new one! Yippee! I love it, love it, what a wonderful distraction for me. Hey, if you can't get a call with a referral to get packing, you gotta do something to kill time - why not get a new car? To all family members; forget any gifts this year! ;) Just kidding!

And last but not anywhere near least, my blog friend and her family are traveling home from Ethiopia with their beautiful children and new family member Zufan, RIGHT NOW! She is stunning. Wish them a safe trip home and lot's of love. Click here to see their blog! And thanks to my very, very dear friend Emily, I can finally add url's without having to cut and paste the actual address - I'm totally going to over use this new found tool - Thanks Em! :)