I've been tagged!

I'm so excited to have been tagged by Stacie because that means I have blogfriends! Yay! So here goes nothing (in no particular order):



8 things I'm passionate about:
1. Adoption and how it is now a part of my life
2. Being involved in the lives of my friends
3. My hubband
4. Spiritual growth
5. Being intentional and significant
6. Serving others
7. Laughter
8. Decorating (Ok, I am a little embarassed to admit it, but it probably has to be on this list.)


8 things I want to do before I die:
1. Adopt! A lot!
2. Graduate (soon!)
3. Make the perfect meal (including a perfectly set table)
4. Take Justin to Disney World even though he's convinced he'll hate it
5. Run a marathon
6. Foster parent
7. Clean out hubband's hobby room
8. Have everything clean at once (house, yard, laundry, hubband, etc.)

8 things I say often:
1. I love you
2. Just kidding
3. Uhh, in the dryer
4. No, not yet
5. Let's do it
6. I'm ok with that
7. Yay!
8. May I have a tall cafe vanilla frappacino with no whip, please?


8 TV shows you recently watched
1. The Simpsons (Hubband recently introduced me...and bought several seasons)
2. "History in the Classroom" (varies topic, on the History Channel from 5:15-6:00am)
3. Designed to Sell
4. Still Standing
5. Dirty Jobs
6. Survivorman
7. The Duggars (these people have 17 bio children!!!)
8. The music channels on our TV (no, not MTV)

8 Songs I never tire of listening to: (this was really really hard for me so I'm changing it to artists instead)
1. Norah Jones
2.Barlow Girl
3. Enter the Worship Circle
4. Josie and the Pussycats Soundtrack (haha, I know...)
5. Jude
6. Dashboard Confessional
7. The Shins
8. Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five

8 things that attract me to my friends:
1. ability to laugh at anything
2. desire and willingness to take funny pictures
3. high moral fiber
4. love of coffee, especially Starbucks (we are being honest here)
5. love of sweets (as long as we're being honest)
6. willingness to go along for the ride
7. good advice, both giving and taking
8. ability to talk (or email) for hours about nothing

8 Things I learned in 2007:

1. marriage gets better and better
2. it's ok to change
3. I actually like this blog stuff (who would have thought?)
4. laugh and get over it
5. God will teach you anything you're willing to learn (and some things you're not)
6. I really am an excellent baker (see no. 5 above)
7. happiness is not a place, it's a life skill
8. life really is so much fun!




Ok, so now I'm supposed to tag some people:
Bethany, Amy, Tracie, Cindy, Michelle, Adanise, Vickey, Christin, Kellie, and Glo.
Yay for blogbuddies!

Questions for the Readers

Hello out there in BlogLand. So, as a soon-to-be first time mom, I have some questions. Today, I want to ask two:

1. What is the public opinion on breastfeeding adopted children? Has anyone tried? Success?

2. Is anyone out there teaching their little one Baby Sign Language? I've often thought of this, especially with the language barrier and saw this post on my friend's blog. There's a new post now, but scroll down to the Black Bean Incident. There's a terrific picture.

Thanks, and let me know!!!

random little bits

Things are getting done around here. Thank you, fellow bloggers and adopters for all your encouragement and support. I got some good things from you guys! For instance, I'm officially setting a goal. I kinda had one in mind but only because our agency requests that you finish your dossier paperwork in 4 months. But now, I'm officially claiming to the world (or at least the www) that I want to be done with our homestudy paperwork and dossier paperwork by Valentine's Day. Then hopefully we can get our home visit done by the end of February and mail off our stuff by March 1. I know those are some pretty big goals, but I'm feeling a pretty big amount of love and determination lately.

My sweet friend Angela is going to be induced with baby no. 2 tomorrow morning. I missed my weekly phone call from our agency because I went with her to her last doctor's appointment. But I'd sent an email to Julie letting her know, and this is what she wrote back: "Thanks so much for letting me know. I hope you have a great appointment—this is exciting—you are both pregnant! :) " And yep, I'm starting to feel that way a little.

I couldn't sleep last night and so I did what everyone does at that point...I prayed. Go ahead and admit it. You're just lying there and all of a sudden you say, "Lord, I'd really like to go to sleep now, so whenever you're ready, feel free. Oh, and while I've got your attention....blah blah blah." It's ok, He understands. I fall asleep most nights saying my prayers but last night's seemed so different. I'd had lunch with some friends who all have babies/little ones and they were asking all about Ethiopia and adoption, etc. When really forced to think about the suggested timeline, I think we could have our little one home for Christmas, even with the court closure. Yippie! It's not so far away.

I know that I am often overwhelmed by all the paperwork and precise expectations about paperwork and that gets me down. Well, maybe it just slows me down. But then I realize that the speed at which I do my paperwork doesn't change the fact that God knows exactly who He has picked to be part of our family and that it all works out in His time. Thank goodness for that.

My hubband* and I still cannot agree on a girl's name. We just know too many people who beat us to having kids. I'm not kidding you when I say that everytime we agree on something, one of our friends steal the name before we get to use it. This has happened more than once. No joke. So if anyone out there has some good suggestions that you're not using, let me know. Thanks.

*Hubband is not a typo. That's his little nickname. It's a new vernacular that I'm trying to spread around, so if you want, feel free to use it with your hubband. : )

And because posts are not-as-fun without pictures, here you go.

This is Justin at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Fort Worth inside a really big metal sculpture. He's waving hello! This reminds me of a "Where's Waldo" picture except there aren't a million other people and he's not wearing stripes. But otherwise...

sweet smiles getting me excited

This week I've been caring for a dear friend's little girl. She's three. The time I've spent with her makes me realize how anxious I really am to get this family thing going. It's so precious to check on her during naps in what will one day be the nursery. It's so fun to watch her discover and learn about new things--like our chiming clock, naming the food at the grocery and eating a healthy "wunch" everyday. And when Justin gets home from work I totally bombard him with a long list of exciting things we did during the day. It's pretty fun.

So having her here has really encouraged me to get busier on the paperwork side of life. I've been making phone calls and arrangements during naptime--which I already appreciate--and at night.

So anyway, this is just a little post to keep me motivated during this not-so-fun stage of paperworking. But back to it!

This IS the year!

Last night I couldn't sleep. Then the fireworks started. I know, I just admited how lame I am. Anyway. I started thinking about new year resolutions. Normally, I'm not a huge fan because I think we mean well but tend to make huge resolutions and then don't have much of a chance living up to them and then we feel awful. Or, if you're like me, you kinda just forget about them.
So this year I've decided to try something new. Really, two new things. And I feel pretty good about them.

Instead of making one or two (or hundreds) of resolutions to try to keep up with for a full year, I am instead going to make one a month. I mean, 30 days is not a really long time (like say, a whole year) and if I find that something isn't as cool as I thought, then no biggie, it's just one month and then I can try something else. And, just think, I could successfully change 12 things about my life in only one year!

The other new thing, is that I'm trying to celebrate happenings of the year more often. While listening to the pop, pop, bang, crash of fireworks last night, I started thinking of what all had happened in 2007. I mean, it wasn't as life changing as 2006 (move, get married, buy a house, get two puppies, change colleges and majors...all in less than three months) but 2007 was still a great year. And even better, I realized that 2008 is going to be awesome!!!

Here are some projected upcoming highlights of 2008 for your enjoyment (and mine):
--I will finally graduate. Let the Hallelujah Chorus begin.
--I will finish the dossier.
--I will take my last spring break vacation. This should be good.
--Justin will graduate from the Police Academy.
--Dan and Jess will tie the knot outside on a rice farm in June. (Crazy, I know).
--I will repaint the bathroom.
--We will celebrate our second wedding anniversary (maybe with another big party).
--I will get a referral for a precious baby who will join our family.
--I will meet and hold and hug and kiss said precious baby...about a million times.
--We will come home, as a family.

See! Tons of fabulous things! I can barely wait.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Our Christmas Post

This is our tree. I put it in a different spot this year...so the furniture is hugging it a little. Ignore the strange arrangement, please. And the floating sconces. : )

So it’s five days until Christmas Eve, which is when all the fun starts in our family. One of my favorite Christmas songs is The 12 Days of Christmas…which if you’ve ever been in my car, you have had the pleasure of hearing it…usually several times in a row. It’s just one of those songs. You know which ones I’m talking about. The ones you have to sing in a certain order. Backwards. As loud and fast as you can. Then you have to try again because if you only had one more chance you could get it right.

Plus, it has funny gifts. I mean, who gives their true love eight maids-a-milking? Where do you put the eight maids? And what about whatever they’re a-milking? This song is an organizational nightmare! But I love it—because it’s so fun. And (you knew there was an and…) because it is so meaningful.

From around 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.


-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testament

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit (Prophesy, Serving,Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy)

-Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.


-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control)


-Ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.


-Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.


-Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Oh, and I decided to throw in several pictures of some of my favorite Christmas ornaments.

Enjoy. Or not. Either way. : )

Angels played a big part in the Christmas Story. They first told Mary and Joseph about the birth of Jesus. Then they proclaimed good news of great joy to the shepards. Then they did lots of rejoicing.

This is the Cross. It's the whole reason Jesus was here on Earth.

I love this butterfly. It represents growth, renewal of the Spirit, and the change in one's life from who they once were to who they become in Christ. An ugly worm to a beautiful butterfly.

Cool, huh?

More with the fall colors, I know. But this leaf also represents the changes we see in our lives through Christ: what He has done for us, where He has taken us. To me, it also represents the seasons of one's life; to remind us that after the fall and winter comes a refreshing spring with the Lord!

I have some glittery pears and apples. They remind me of the Fruits of the Spirit and the sweetness of a life in Christ. I only have eight of them though, so I'm always wondering which fruit I am lacking. : )

These are clearly stars like the one that led the Magi to Jesus. Stars also represent the light of the world, which is Jesus. You know, God is the best literary writer ever. The Bible is just packed full of stuff!

Another swirly twirly star. It's rays are super bright.

I like the really long point on this one. If I were a Magi, the star would have to be like this, otherwise, I'd be totally lost. This reminds us of the incredible journey that the Magi took just to see the baby King, as well as the incredible life that Jesus lived, the incredible sacrifice God made to send His Son, and the incredible journey that Christ leads you on. Also, this year, there's an incredible journey of faith through adoption! Lots of incredible stuff here.

And finally, and most important, is our partridge in a pear tree.

Merry (12 Days of) Christmas, Everyone!!!

It's gonna be a Boy. Or a Girl!

Yesterday morning I worked on our dossier/homestudy stuff for a little under two hours. Man, who knew getting birth certificates and marriage licenses were so expensive! (Anyone know where to get them for less than an arm and a leg?) I am starting to see why all of this takes so long...because so much of it depends on other people! You have to order stuff and wait. Ask your boss to write something and wait. Check the mail and wait. The exciting thing is that I'm noticing that AGCI families are currently only waiting about 8-10 weeks for infant referral from the time their dossier is done. Speaking of that, the Beelers just received a referral for a little girl! How exciting!

This is great for so many reasons -- on a selfish personal note, it means that there's a possibility of girl referrals for non-gender-specified adoptive parents. Did that make sense? I've noticed on several blogs that parents who do not choose girl or boy usually receive boy referrals. And since Justin and I couldn't agree on a gender, we did not specify. Which later led me to believe we would receive a boy referral. (And I can't say that I'm not starting to at least get used to the idea of a boy.) But now I feel excited that it really could be either! Yay! I love not knowing. I think it's one of the most exciting parts!

do good gifts

This is the Feed Bag. With the purchase of this gift, you will school and feed a child for ONE YEAR. Isn't that incredible?

The creator of TOMS Shoes, Blake Mycoskie (who was on TV's The Incredible Race) added this to his site. If you don't know about TOMS Shoes, they are "shoes for tomorrow.

This is the pair that I have...and of course, I have told Santa about some cool new brown and gold ones that would be handy. Let me also add that they are sooo comfy! TOMS Shoes took several THOUSAND pairs of shoes to needy kids in Argentina in 2006. Earlier this fall, he came to our church and did an interview about it. This year, I think in November, they took 60,000--that's right, sixty thousand pairs of shoes to Africa. How incredible is that? Also, while touring the continent, he went to Ethiopia and learned about Mossy Foot Disease.

Mossy Foot is a debilitating condition foundprimarily in rural districts on people that work in soil of volcanic origin.This condition causes swelling & ulcers in the feet and lower legs. This deformity, swelling, repeated ulceration and secondary infections make people with Mossy Foot social outcasts equivalent to those with leprosy.The afflicted are deserted by their friends, their hope of marriage and employmentis lost because of others fears of contracting the disease.

When Blake learned this, he vowed to continue working in Ethiopia until the disease was eradicated. This means he'll be providing shoes for our children and their birth parents, as welll as their communities. Doesn't this just make your heart cry out?

Also, on several blogs now, is this fabulous shirt, which you can sport and half the proceeds go to Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia, where all the AGCI kids live before coming home to their forever families.

hip hip hooray!

Well, after a while of being sad, I was just about to give up. I was going to take my photo card and stand at Walgreens for hours waiting to download all the prints. All of a sudden, my hubband remembered that his printer takes cards. Lo and behold! An XD drive! Yippie!!! So, finally, without (much) further ado, a few pictures. Let's face it, blogs are better with pictures!

This little sweetheart is Landon. He's already 4 and a half months old. This was when he was brand new and I think that both our faces are classic expressions that totally represent who we each are.

This is me in the fall aisle at Hobby Lobby, or affectionately known around here as HoLo. I love fall and fall colors and in order to really get any type of fall here in Texas, you just stand in the aisle and pretend. Just like I'm doing here. (Notice that my outfit including my glasses match. That's how ridiculous I am.)


This is the long awaited (ok, well, maybe I've just been longing to publish) picture of us at Halloween! I wore my prom dress (again, ridiculous, I know) and some bonus stuff as the Tooth Fairy and Justin went as a dentist, in case you couldn't tell by his over-excited brushing.

These last two are from our trip to Fort Worth, Texas. We toured the Botanical Gardens and the Japanese Gardens. These are nifty little tubes you can talk and listen with a friend who is really far away.

Or not so far away if you're with Justin.

: )

Ok folks, that's it for now. I'm running off with Misty and the kids to do pictures at Wal-Mart. AND! Bonus, I'm an emergency shopper for our church's Christmas Miracles Project. Woohoo. I get to do extra Christmas shopping. And wrapping! How awesome and amazing is that? Today is a grrrreat day!

spoiling your baby

A big congrats to Ted and Tracie who received their referral! Yay!

Speaking of referrals, I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Our agency sent us a packet of info along with our dossier to read. It's got stuff about getting ready for baby, meeting baby, bonding with baby, attachment issues, and so on. Lots of the info is generic for adoptive families with multiple countries. Some of the things I've read lately make me a little nervous. So my question to all you fellow bloggers out there: what types of attachment and bonding are you seeing from your Ethiopian darling?