Helloooo....

He's getting so big!! Deciding which Lego item to build next!

This is last year, but we are finally getting some greenery around here!!!

Hey guys, I know, I know.... I was a faithful blogger, now, not so much!! What has happened to me? Well, it's a huge long story ... I am a kitchen designer (which is such a wonderful creative outlet for me) and recently I chose to start another home business which has occupied (by choice) a decent amount of my spare time! PLUS, now that spring has sprung in New England, people are getting excited and are planning kitchens in mass numbers and I'm like a chicken with my head cut off (sort of)~




My house (for the first time ever) is falling to shambles, which I actually love. To not give a crap if everything is "just right" is refreshing... Nick gave me some of that, but with now being able to shop for our "Bump" and with all the work and everthing the house is going to hell in a hand basket! I didn't remove laundry from the dryer for almost two whole days!!! Yikes!




So, ALL GOOD! And we're waiting for our referral call to come very soon... I think within a very short amount of time (I don't dare give an estimation that would skew the predictions)!




Some pics. recent and a year or so old just to add interest!

New post below!

I did a short new post, but blogger put it under the "pretty in pink" post because they were done the same day and I've been killing myself to get the video to work (which never happened)! :)

Scroll down to get the link~awesome video of the marathon finish this past Monday... an amazing Ethiopian woman won!!! Dire Tune!!

Pretty in Pink!

I'll just blurt out the main details so you don't have to read through the gobble-de-gook if you prefer not to~ (blogger is not letting me break paragraphs, sorry)!!!

WE CHANGED OUR REQUEST~ 36MONTH & UNDER ~ GIRL!!!!

So, if you've read the last two posts you know of the recent "bump" again with our original request from our agency (24mos. & under - either gender).

It could seriously be another four months if we continued on that path not including any other "bumpers"! That's not to say that we couldn't have rec'd "the call" in a couple of months, and it also doesn't mean that by stretching out our age request that we'll get "the call" next week or even very soon (but we will, wink wink)!

So after crying last night, getting over it, crying more, getting over it I woke up feeling OK. Not great and not bad. Just OK. I proceeded with our normal routine with b.fast and got Nick ready as today is one of his "school" days (pre-school). After I dropped him off and headed for Walgreens for some badly needed Singulair allergy meds. I started to cry again! Within about one minute of my utter self centeredness and "why me", "why do I keep failing" bull crap, I almost literally was slapped in the face and heard this voice (not literally like a stranger was in the car, but you know what I'm trying to say)... here's what I felt and heard like a thunderbolt!

"What the hell is the matter with you? What is the freakin big deal. Get over yourself! Look at all of those children. The facts are; 1. Children need families (older) 2. You want a child! How hard is it to figure out that you must change your age request"?

And with that I started shaking and called MP. Of course he was in between meetings and had only two minutes to talk... I started to tell him "we need to change, it's so clear and stupid that we never did. One of the reasons we went to 24mos. is because the agency and country for that matter was in dire need for parents of toddlers". I continued,"all this time we've both been secretly hoping for a girl and want one so bad but were afraid to mess with "fate" and God's plan". I told him "its time to up our age span and specify that we request a little girl". Before I was even done speaking he butted in, "do it, do it now, this is right"!

So, it took a bit for it to sink in and I completed my drug store excursion with happy puffy eyes and still shaky! Got home and talked with my mom real quick and immediately called our sw Roy (awesome, love him). Of course I had to alert my BBF's before doing this post and have done so!

Thanks for the overjoyed responses thus far....

I don't second guess this decision one single bit (which is rare for the rule follower that I am) and am convinced that this is our fate and path. As Em put it and I couldn't agree more; "you made this decision when you made it because she's walking through those doors right now" (or something similar). And I truly believe that.

It's so funny because there have been two times in these eight months that I have reached out to our sw asking and flirting with the idea of changing age range (not gender). The last time I reached out to him was just last week! And I wasn't clear, just flirting. We ultimately decided there was no way we wanted to change... and here, look, only days later! The biggest change is not age for me but gender selection. My old mantra was, "well, you can't pick when your pregnant"! Well, guess what, you can pick when you're adopting and they all need homes. Soooooo I'm so over that already. This is the plan and I can't wait to feel it unfold and see her face!

How surreal to say that - This is completely crazy, but one of the first things I'm going to do and have been planning to do if we got a girl was to buy a beautiful chandelier for her room! Now I can start planning!! Woo hoo!

Love and hugs from lovely New Hampshire ~ the weather is heavenly these days~~

Feel free to only select prediction dates from now on minus gender - if you want me to change one that you currently have, alert me!

I LOVE THIS!

Zufan's Momma had this on her blog!!! Fantastic!!!

I can't seem to get it on here (formerly spelled "hear", duh, always read post before publishing) which is driving me nuts!! Click here and scroll back a couple of days to see the marathon video!!

HE had to slap me in the face for me to hear HIM...

1. Kids need families...
2. We want another child...

Check back later today for an update....

Don't bother checking except once a month!

This is "happy me" a couple of weeks ago...

Now, not so much! After reading our agency update today it has been clear that we've been bumped again... two weeks in a row! :( I cried for a bit and got angry a bit too. Now, it's just back to regular life and the feeling that this may never actually happen. There's what my head tells me (the logical part) and what my heart tells me... they are in major competition tonight!

I DO know it WILL happen. But, yet again, delay. It's looking more and more like we WILL be caught in the court closure at this point in time. We are (to my estimation) fourth in line now instead of second. Big difference!!! We had resolved ourselves that our babe would be home before the end of summer, but it looks more like fall. I'm devastated, but it's not in my control and life could be so much worse...

We'll keep trucking along, but for everyone kind enough to post predictions, you should re-think them and add a couple of months at least... It doesn't help that this week marks our wait to eight months since dossier. Never imagined we'd be anywhere close to where we are now, but thems are the facts friends.....

Sadly,

Lor

Predictions and "WALK ON"....

Hi! there's really nothing much to blog about adoption wise. Things are going great and we're still super excited awaiting our "call". It looks as though we were second in line and are now back to third again... Not that you want to say where you are in line for a gift of a child, but that's how the adoption ball bounces!! Several families within our agency are switching from the "infant list" to the "toddler list". If they've been waiting longer then they are put in front of MP and I.

I was disappointed by AI last week as Em posted on her blog and some others have as well. It seemed more of a Hollywood awards ceremony and less of the stories of the lives of many that are so compelling... grr. That's what happens when too much Hollywood get's injected into stuff!

On another note; somehow ;) I seem to be shedding some of my winter coat (saddle bags)~
Not too much yet, but it's a start! This warm (40-50 degree) weather is sure to help with the extra 10 or so pounds left to go!

We were thinking that we'd be home by Christmas with our little Parker babe last fall... then we were thinking that before summer "for sure".... Now, I just hope it's within the next two months so that we don't get caught in the dreadful court closing issue...

So, in closing... I'd like to ask for your predictions to keep up my good spirits and to have some fun! The closest (even if over) will get a little something from the Parkers!

What's you guess for referral date and gender?? Please list it in your comment! There could be some "ties" here because of the gender issue, but we'll take it as it comes. If there are two persons with the same date but different gender then they will both "win"! Can you stand the excitement? Who will win, what's the prize, oh dear I'm getting veclemped (sp)?

*prizes and objectives are not said. The winner will be announced the following two Fridays after the referral. Subject to parental override. All winners will be bound by the date and gender in the comments and cannot be changed. Taxes and surcharges may apply. Shipping and declaration are to be determined. In no way are the Parkersadopt under any penalty should delay occur. The winner(s) is responsible for filing any and all appropriate documentation supporting their date/gender specification(s).

THIS SONG IS DEDICATED TO OUR PARKER BABE AND TO ALL THE FAMILIES WAITING FOR REFERRAL AND FOR COURT/TRAVEL INFO~

TURN IT UP~

Walk On, U2
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring...
And love is not the easy thing...
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind
And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong
Walk on, walk on
What you got, they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight...
You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom
Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't deny it
Can't sell it or buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight
And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on
Home...hard to know what it is if you never had one
Home...I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the heart isI know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on
Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
All that you scheme...

Idol and Habitat...

As I did last year, I'll be watching Americal Idol tonight on the edge of the sofa.... Crying of course! I hope that everyone watches and tells friends and family to watch as it brings awarness to people that have no clue... Hopefully it will inspire great acts, I'm sure it will. It confirmed our decision to adopt, and to adopt from Africa (along with our friends in Texas)! Money is only a tiny bit of the solution, we plan to donate, but my biggest and strongest feeling is to get over there and get my hands dirty and help them in other ways...

Habitat for Humanity is the organization that I think MP and I will do our first humanitarian trip with back to Ethiopia... while we obviously can't go this year, hopefull 2009 or 2010 the latest! It's a pretty short trip with a very well known organization to get our feet wet. Then perhaps we'll get more adventurous with other groups that go further into remote areas and spend more time there... I know my limits people, baby steps! They have a program called the Global Village Program where they go all over the world with volunteers to help build homes that are decent. Who knew that they did this?? I didn't! And I was thrilled to see Ethiopia on their list. It costs very, very, very, little to go and we just can't wait!

Click on the above link if you or anyone you know might be interested! How fun would it be if we could organize a team of adoptive parents to all go on one trip - that would rock! Anyone? Anyone?

Where am I?

I've been absent more than usual... for many reasons...

MP is away in Germany all this week... I had a terribly emotional weekend regarding adoption and other stuff...

The most wonderful experience of the week was meeting an amazing family close by with their adopted Ethiopian little boy.. just today.

It has given me a newfound hope and excitement long past of how wonderful and gifted our lives will soon be. This little guy (4yrs. old) was pure God given beauty... UNREAL!

Watching American Idol tonight and the fact that they did their "Idol Gives Back" segment on Ethiopia put me in tears...tears, and more tears...

I've realized (yet again) that this adoption is sooo much more than how it began... It began as MP and I expanding our family and has turned into a blessing of un-proportioned knowledge... My/our
eyes and hearts have been expanded beyond our wildest dreams. Where the end will take us is uncertain at this point, but I can certainly say that my love affair with Ethiopia and Africa has only just begun.

Our end to the waiting journey is sure to be soon-ish, but there is much more to this story... we've only begun this chapter, and I welcome with open arms whatever God leads us to do.

It is with my extreme and utter pleasure to give Jesus the reigns... I am letting go (should have long ago).... He was always in control and I hope to remember this in the coming days/months as we anxiously await our call. It is not a call to save his/her life, it is not a call to save my crazy obsession, it IS a call to give us both the path that has been chosen by HIM and to love and hold, and to give more than each of us can bear... but we (parent and child) will both do what is necessary and we will form a family of love, security and awareness.

There is so much more that I'm feeling and want to say, but am reserved right now... I want to save my gut thoughts until we get our referral and/or travel.

On one final note: Let's try to get our loved ones to watch American Idol Gives Back on April 9th... next week.

I'll do a post the day or so before, and I know that money isn't the answer, but it can help now...

Ciao Bella's