First Communion Weekend

Michael made his First Holy Communion this past weekend. He was so handsome in his suit. He was also very proud of himself, he stood very tall and was just beaming.

The above and below photos were taken before the Mass.

I got tears in my eyes when the children started processing in. When I saw Michael carrying the banner the tears increased. He did a very good job!!

He was so excited to finally be able to receive Communion........I was so proud of him!!

We had a lovely party after the Mass. We had about 30 friends and family members over to the house for dinner. It was wonderful, a good time had by all. Michael was fortunate enough to receive quite a bit of money in gifts. The next day he bought a bike, he was very excited!!

Fun Monday

Our wonderful hostess with the mostess this week is Angela from The Lurchers. Her assignment was the following:


All I want you to do is take me on your favourite walk. In words or pictures. Or both of course! Tell me why it's your favourite and point out things of interest on the way.


I loved this assignment and knew exactly what I wanted to do as soon as I read it!!!


My absolute favorite walk is the following trail....

...this is the Bear Valley Trail at Pt. Reyes National Seashore. We have walked this and other trails many times. I love the whole area...it is my "happy place".



But..the walk I am going to take you on today is my favorite regular one. I do this walk a few times a week...I like to vary my walking routes so I don't get bored. This is one of my challenging routes....are you ready? Let's go..



I need to get my favorite walking buddy ready....look at that face..."Come on Mom..you said we were going to walk!"...okay Baron...let's go..

Sorry Tucker, you can't come along with us...no cats allowed on our walks. Do you think he looks angry??


First we walk up our hill....you will see that the area we live is full of hills...in fact a flat area is very rare!!

Then we go down...I never tire of the views....I love the trees. They are evergreen with a few deciduous mixed in.


Sometimes we cross this bridge and I let Baron have some off leash time in the park...but not today...today we are on a mission...


We are going to conquer this hill. This hill is about a mile from our house. It is a half mile long of straight uphill, and the grade worsens as you climb....are you ready??

Part way up I walk backwards. Not only does this give my lungs a rest, but it also gives my quads a workout. Plus it confuses the heck out of Baron...."what side should I be on?? I was on her left but now she turned around...I am so confused"...it is kind of fun to keep him guessing, as long as he doesn't trip me!!

Around the corner the hill continues...

By this time I am really sucking air and for years I thought this was paint on the street. Recently I was walking at dusk and saw these...

....roosting in these....

Yes, those are turkey vultures' night roosting eucalyptus trees. Now that I am educated on the subject I walk this area very carefully lest I get some Turkey Vulture Hair Conditioner deposited on my head!!


Almost to the top....just around the corner..and I find this..



...a gorgeous view. The mountain in the far upper right corner is Mt. Tamalpais. I can also see the San Francisco Bay, but it didn't show in the picture very well. Now I am catching my breath and basking in the view, all the way down the hill. The rest of the walk is mostly down hill until we get to my street...then it is up and down again until...

...we arrive at home sweet home. By this time I have to pee so bad that I barely make it...I don't know why, but it happens every time!!


Hope you enjoyed our walk...I am looking forward to going on everyone elses'!!!

Footprints of a Family, our second adoption journey, part 14

this journey begins here

Tuesday morning we awoke bright and early and went to the hospital. Laura was in good spirits and Michael was doing very well. We spent the morning visiting and enjoying Michael. We had numerous visitors, including our attorney and agency social worker. Dave and I also had the pleasure of meeting Laura's extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. We were having a marvelous time until the phone calls began.





The phone calls were from Michael's birthfather's mother and family. They started in Laura's room and they were not congratulatory or positive in any way. After numerous inflammatory calls, we stopped answering the phone. The calls then went to the nurse's station. The accused us of numerous, erroneous, and downright ludicrous things. The were under the assumption that we were wealthy and we were paying Laura for this precious baby. The nurses were wonderful and amazing. They fielded these horrendous calls with poise and professionalism. They protected us from this hostility, even when the calls became more and more frequent, and more inflammatory. We knew what was happening outside of the hospital room, but we were also cocooned in the safety of the hospital room. Deep down, we were not concerned with our physical safety, but our emotional and mental safety was threatened. The birthfather still had not signed his papers, and as delusional as he was, he still had rights. He did not want the baby, but he wanted his share of the "profits". If only he knew that the only "profits" Laura recieved was a broken heart, a peaceful one, but still a bit broken.





The day was passing and eventually the phone calls stopped. The visitors trickled away and it was soon discharge time. Laura and Michael were going home....Michael with us, and Laura with her mother. Laura wanted to make the occasion a special one. Her grandmother, Michael's birth great grandmother who shares his birthday, handmade baby gowns for Michael. Laura and I dressed him in one of the gowns and wrapped him in a blanket Laura bought for him. Laura and her mother carried this precious bundle to the hospital chapel. We followed.





In the chapel Laura had a special "handing over ceremony". She placed her son in our arms and told us she was giving him to us so he could have the life she felt she was unable to provide for him. She was trusting us to love him and raise him into a healthy and happy man.





We held Michael in our arms and thanked Laura for her selflessness and promised to love and nurture Michael. I looked in her eyes and saw her love for him and us and hoped I could live up to her expectations. At that moment I saw into her soul, what a beautiful site.





Laura, her mother, Dave and I hugged and cried and hugged and cried more. We then went back to Laura's room and we gathered up Michael's belongings. Dave and I left the hospital with our son, in our hearts we were carrying Laura also.





We went to our hotel room and prepared for our first night with our son. We called my parents immediately so Cassie could talk to her new brother. Our attorney estimated that we would be going home by the weekend.....it was Tuesday night....just a few more days....we hoped...





to be continued.....

Friday Funny

This a Public Service Announcement for all you...because I really like you!!! The weather is warming up and most of us will be seeking our summer glow. You probably think that skin cancer is a worry, the depleted ozone layer is a worry, the environmental toxins are a worry. Well, yes all the above are worries, but I found something even worse to worry about......Ladies take heed....Gentlemen, please warn your wives....

DON'T SUNBATHE IN THE NUDE

Have a great Friday!!!

Awards and an Update

Beth, who lives on a Funny Farm gave me this wonderful award....thanks so much Beth, right back at you!!! I am going to pass this on to the following bloggy friends:

Swampy

Deb

ChrisB

Melissa

Karisma

Irene

ChrisB bestowed upon my this incredible award. Thank you so much Chris, I am not sure I deserve it, but I will wear it proudly!! I will pass this one onto the following bloggy friends:


Tera
Jan
Lisa





Now for an update on me...first off, please let me apologize for my sporadic posting. I know you are waiting on pins and needles to hear the rest of our second adoption journey!! I have been very busy in the garden, cleaning up after the winter. We are also in the midst of a remodel of the back garden, a complete remodel!! It will be gorgeous when it is complete.



Speaking of remodels....I am in the process of remodeling myself. Getting healthy physically has become a number one priority for me, and this takes time. I have been cooking nutritious meals nightly and walking daily. All of this is wonderful and I am feeling so much better, but it also cuts down on my computer time.



Our son is making his First Holy Communion this weekend. He looks so handsome in his suit!! I am getting ready for this also...we are having a party after the Mass at our house.



So, that is my update. I hope to write the next installment this week and I am planning on posting pictures from this weekend.....please don't forget about me...I enjoy visiting you and having your visit me and leave me comments!!

Fun Monday

Our wonderful Hostess this week is Southern Doll and this is her assignment:

What have you done in your life that was worth doing? I want to know the moments in your life that you hope will be the ones to pass through your mind when your time comes. I hope that doesn't sound too morbid. This doesn't necessarily have to be items you have checked off your Bucket List, it can be those small moments that made you smile, or the time you got that huge promotion you deserved, or the first time your baby smiled at you out of pure joy. I want to know all the moments, big and small, that make life sweet! If you don't already have a running list of these in your mind, you should! These moments help you remember how much your life is worth living, and we all deserve to enjoy it.

I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. Mistakes are made to become lessons and regrets are a waste of energy. Everything that has happened in my life has made me the person I am today. That being said...here a few of my highlights:

* being adopted into my wonderful family, warts and all!!

* becoming friends with my bestest buddy "Putt" when we were 10 years old.

* graduating from college

* telling my friend to have her boyfriend's brother call me in 10 minutes and then running home to take the phone call....

* marrying this wonderful man 5 years after that phone call

* going through our infertility in order to become parents to the two wonderful children we adopted

* paying the balance of the lady's grocery bill when she was scrounging in her purse for loose change while her toddler watched her

* having my daughter see me do this

* smiling at store clerks and thanking them for helping me

* having my children watch me do this and seeing them do the same thing

Life is what you make it. You get back what you give. Smile at strangers, you will get a smile back and if you don't, you will still feel good.

Enjoy your Monday and don't forget to visit Southern Doll for everyone else's lists.

Friday Funny

In case you missed it. Here is the Washington Post's Mensa Invitational which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.The winners are:




1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.



2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an arsehole.



3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.



4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.



5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.



6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.



7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.



8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.



9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.



10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.



11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)



12. Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and then the Earth explodes, and it's a serious bummer.



13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.



14. Glibido: All talk and no action.



15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.



16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.



17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.



18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.





Have a great Friday!!!

Footprints of a Family, our second adoption journey, part 13

this journey begins here

We walked into Laura's room. Her mother was with her. We were still on our emotional high from the birth and were marveling over how perfect this little boy was. I looked at Laura and said, "I don't think we can adopt this baby." She looked at me in shock and was speechless. Her mother asked me what I was talking about. I told them, "I saw the way you looked at him and I saw the love in your eyes. I can't take him away from you, you love him too much." Laura and her mom both said to us, "That is why we want you to have him...we love him that much. Because of our love for him, we are doing this." We all had tears rolling down our faces and were hugging each other. I still felt pain in my heart for Laura, but I also felt joy in our new son. This is the paradox of adoption, immense pain coupled with immense love and immense joy.


Michael Patrick was born on February 14. He shares his birthday with his Grandmother (Dave's mom) and his Birth Great Grandmother (Laura's grandmother). He could not have been born on a more perfect day. All those days spent waiting for his birth, all those hours spent crying and waiting. It was all meant to be. We formed a special bond with Laura and her family in those days. We now call them our Family in South Carolina...not only Laura, but her mother and aunts and uncles and cousins and grandmother....all of them we keep in contact with to this day.


We left the hospital mid morning to get some rest. We had been up for well over 24 hours, and as excited as we were, we were also exhausted. We called Cassie and told her that her little brother was here. She was very excited and asked when we would be coming home. Soon, we told her, very soon, as soon as the paperwork was complete. Her 4 year old mind could not comprehend paperwork and state regulations, she wanted us home now, her brother was here and she wanted to meet him. I cried again when I hung up the phone.


We also called our attorney and our social worker. The paperwork process was started. The birth father was still not cooperating. We were reassured numerous times not to worry about this, he would not be a problem.


Before Michael's birth, before we arrived in South Carolina we were contacted by a journalist who was writing an article on Internet adoptions for Parenting Magazine. We agreed to be interviewed for her article, and Laura gave her permission also. We put her on our email loop so she could stayed updated on our adoption process. We were very surprised to receive a phone call from her on the day of Michael's birth. She asked permission to come to South Carolina and meet us and Laura in order to include Michael's birth in the article. We gave her our permission and she arranged a photographer locally. Her story ran in Parenting Magazine and also ran in Adoptive Families Magazine.


As you can probably guess, we did not get much rest. We made and received numerous phone calls. Our adrenaline was working overtime. Our excitement level was astronomical. We had a son!! He was finally here!! He was perfect!! Everything was falling into place....finally....we could ease our minds and enjoy our expanding family.


We might have had a quick cat nap...but we wanted to get back to the hospital and admire our new son. A quick shower for both of us and back to the hospital we went. Laura was in great spirits. She was amazing through this whole experience. She always had a positive outlook and she kept her sense of humor. She never lost her spirit, I was humbled by her. We spent her hospital visit with her and Michael, in her room. I attempted to breastfeed Michael with her and her mom helping me. They loved the idea and were very supportive to me. We spent hours staring at Michael and oohing and aahing over him. It was beautiful.


Midday, Michael's birth father arrived at the hospital. This was the first time we had met him. He was very subdued and didn't say much. We did get a picture of him and Laura with Michael. His visit was very short. He was non confrontational, but he still did not sign any papers or agree to the adoption.


We spent the day in Laura's room. We visited with each other and Laura's visitors. We took care of Michael and took turns holding him. It was a beautiful, relaxing day. No tears were shed this afternoon, only laughter and love.


We went back to our hotel that night with smiles on our faces and love and peace in our hearts. Laura and Michael would be discharged the following day. If all went well, we would be on a plane by the weekend....going home to our beautiful daughter and the completion of our family.


We woke up the next day and went to hospital in the morning. So began a day full of chaos....


to be continued....

Fun Monday

Our exemplary hosts this week are the one and only Nekked Lizards. Their assignment is the following:

FIVE PICTURES - FIVE WORDS PER PICTURE.Any 5 (FIVE) pictures, any subject, and any 5 (FIVE) words to describe and/or explain each picture.

I loved this assignment...in fact I loved it so much I chose 6 pictures....but I still only did 5 words...sorry NLL and NLM!!!!

Relaxation, Warmth, Bliss, Sand, Childhood

Love, Nap, Cozy, Innocence, Security

Serenity, Sunlight, Peace, Maturing, Soft

Puppy Breath, Contentment, Joy, Happy, Restful

Joy, Bonding, Running, Happiness, Beautiful

Adventure, Togetherness, Safety, Siblings, Love

I loved this assignment and I can't wait to see to see everyone else's....head on over to the Nekked Lizards for more photo fun!!

Award and Meme

HolleeAnn gave me this wonderful award.....Thank You so much Hollee....this was very sweet of you!!!! I will now pass this awesome award to the following Wonderful Women of the Web:

Karisma

Beth

Kim

Jennifer

Sandy tagged me for this fun Meme:

The rules are:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.

3. At the end of the post, the player then tags people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What I was doing 10 years ago:

Ten years ago I was a mother to a 3 year old angel, working part time as a dental hygienist. We had our Koni, our first dog as a married couple. She was a lab/chow mix and an incredible dog. Zack was our new puppy, and our cat's name was Reena. I was trying my darndest to convince Dave that we needed to adopt another baby.

Five things on my To Do List today:

1. spread the 20 bags of bark I purchased today in the garden

2. weed and clean up the pool yard.

3. give the dogs a bath and wash their beds

4. go grocery shopping

5. write my Fun Monday post

Snacks I enjoy:

what I love to enjoy, but don't very often: chocolate, pastries, chips

what I do snack on regularly: fruit, veggies, and my new favorite find Popped Potato Chips, popcorn

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Buy some land and build 2 houses, one for our neighbors. Donate to animal and children's organizations. Establish education endowments for inner city youth.

Three of my bad habits:

1. I tend to be impatient.

2. I procrastinate.

3. I can be impulsive.

Five places I have lived:

1. with my parents.

2. with a roommate.

3. in a studio apartment.

4. with my boyfriend, soon to be husband.

5. in our house.

all of the above was within a 20 mile radius....pretty boring!!!

Five jobs I’ve had:

1. working at Kmart.

2. working at Chuck E. Cheese.

3. working at a health food store.

4. working as a Dental Assistant.

5. and now I am a Dental Hygienist!!

Friday Funny

Have a wonderful Friday!!

20 years ago today....

Twenty years ago today a 21 year old woman and a 29 year old man vowed their love and commitment to each other in front of 200 of their closest friends and family members. They then proceeded to the local country club and had one of the wildest parties that country club had seen in years. I am sure that half the people at that wedding did not expect it to last more than a few years, at most. A few years later, the bride and groom did not have high hopes of the marriage lasting another month, much less another year.


Twenty years later, we are still married and happier than we have ever been. We spent hours working on bettering ourselves, which in turn bettered our marriage. He is my best friend, my husband, my lover, the father of my children. He makes me laugh daily, cry at times, and holds my hand while walking down the street. He can still melt my insides with his crooked smile, and he can exasperate me with his silliness. He is a wonderful father, a loving husband, a devoted son, and a good person.


This song reminds me of us and our marriage. It started on shaky ground, but we have sowed and reaped our marriage into a strong, beautiful garden.

I love you Dave....Happy Anniversary!!

Footprints of a Family, our second adoption journey, part 12

this journey begins here

from now on L will be referred to by her name - Laura

Sunday, February 13, 2000

We spent the day at Laura's house with her mom and grandmother. The weather was very cold, there was even snow on the ground in places. Laura was feeling better after the Castor oil debacle. Everyone was anxious for Laura's labor to start. My nerves were beyond frayed, Dave's also. Laura was walking laps throughout the house with one of us accompanying her. Finally, we needed a change of scenery, so we decided to take our walking elsewhere.

We went to the local WalMart and walked the store. And walked and walked. We had a basket for Laura to lean on (it never dawned on anyone to ask her why she felt the need to lean on it). We had a ball in that store, believe or not. I am not sure how long we were there, but I do remember Laura using the bathroom a few times. Every time she returned from the bathroom I looked at her expectantly, hoping she would say that her water had broken....she never did.

After a couple of hours of stalking the WalMart aisles, we decided that we were hungry. Laura chose a restaurant and off we went. It was a buffet style restaurant, one of Laura's favorites. I am sure the food was good, but I have no recollection. I don't even know if I ate anything. By this time I become aware of Laura's growing discomfort and I guessed, and hoped, she was in labor. I became fully focused on her and my heart sped up a notch. I was suddenly wide awake, the lethargy I had been feeling all day slipped away.

Our meal was finished and we were having our dessert. Laura was coming back to the table with her dessert and as she was putting her plate down, she suddenly stood up tall and said, "I have to go the bathroom."

She quickly walked away and I said, "I bet her water just broke."

I was right. She came back to the table and said, "I think my water just broke." We quickly left the restaurant and drove to her house. After a call in to the doctor we were on the way to the hospital. The time was around 9:00 pm.

We arrived at the hospital and Laura is quickly checked in and examined. Yes, she was leaking amniotic fluid....yes, she was in labor....yes, the moment we have all been waiting for has arrived. The baby is coming.

We had been in South Carolina for 8 days. In those days we shed many tears, said many prayers, laughed until we cried, met and fell in love with and bonded with Laura and her family, held hands, held each other, bonded anew with each other, missed our daughter, made numerous phone calls....and grew emotionally and spiritually and more in love with each other and life. We were now coming to the end of one phase of our journey and embarking on a new phase of our journey.

We called our daughter and told her that her brother was on his way. We also called our friend who sent out the news via our email loop we had going during our stay. (When we finally came home I printed up all the emails in this loop from our entire stay in South Carolina...what a treasure.)

Laura was in active labor, and not really liking any part of it. I remember watching her and thinking..."I have the easy part, all I have to do is write a check". I did share this with her, but she did see the humor in it at that time. She did get an epidural which made all the difference in the world....then she thought my comment was funny!! Laura labored and catnapped throughout the night. We catnapped and watched her.

By 6:30 or 7:00 the following morning she was fully dilated and ready to deliver. Her mom, her friend and myself were with her....Dave waited in the hallway. I had the distinct pleasure and honor of watching Laura give birth to our son. I held her leg while she birthed her son, our son. I witnessed his perfect head crown and grow as he emerged from his first mother's body, his first mother who loved him enough to give him life. The emotions that ran through my body were awe inspiring....I can't even put it into words. He slipped through her body and into this world and was placed on her belly. I cut the cord separating him from her, but their ties will never be broken....their hearts are still woven together.

The nurse wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to Laura. Laura looked at him, smiled, and turned to me and said, "Say hello to your son" and handed him to me.

I was speechless, tears were pouring down my face. I looked down at him and looked up at her and our eyes met. I saw in her eyes immense love for this little boy. I looked at her mother and saw immense love and tears, joy and sadness. I looked down at the baby boy I was holding and immediately fell in love.

Laura asked me what his name was....

"How about Michael?" I said.

"Yes," she said, "I like that name."

During this entire moment that felt like hours, but was only minutes, we forgot one very important item.....we forgot to tell Dave!! Laura's friend ran out to the hallway and told him to come in and meet his son.

The moment Dave saw Michael for the first time tears streamed down his face and I fell in love with both my boys all over again. Dave, Laura, her mom, and I held him and loved him and admired him....it was a beautiful moment.

The time came for Michael to go down to the nursery and we walked him down there. We were not allowed in the nursery, but watched through the window. My heart was breaking for Laura and her mom. I watched her birth this baby and I saw the love and pain in her eyes as she handed him to me. I saw that same love and pain in her mother's eyes.

I looked at Dave and said, "We can't adopt this baby. Laura loves him so much...I can't do this to her. We have to go tell her now, and we need to go home."

Dave just stared at me...."What do you mean? Of course we have to adopt this baby..we have been here waiting for this...What are you talking about?" Desperation makes his voice rise.

"I just can't break Laura's heart. I can't do it. She loves him too much. I am going to go and tell her now."

I turn away and start walking back to her room. Dave follows, too stunned to say anything coherent.

to be continued....

Fun Monday

Our wonderful hostess with the mostess this week is Jo Beaufoix..she is just like Kate Moss, but not! Her assignment was the following:


I want to know about your first ‘celebrity’ crush. You know, the one you fancied from that band, or that film, or who read the news, or who won Gold at the Olympics

This was very easy for me...I remember it just like was yesterday...I was in love with...

...and that was my favorite song. I played it all the time...I am sure my family was sick...sick..sick of it, but I loved...loved...loved it. Oh..Shaun Cassidy...those were the carefree days of youth, I wonder where he is now?


Now head on over to Jo's place to visit all the other Fun Mondayers and take a trip down memory lane.

Meme and Award and Presents....Oh My...

Remember the Fun Monday we did a few months ago when our assignment was to give everyone a peek into our bedside table?? Angela from AOJ and the Lurchers had a very interesting book on her bedside table. I really wanted a copy of it...actually I HAD to have a copy of it..it was a complete necessity since my Mom is from Wales. I asked her for all the details about it so I could order it. She was such a sweetheart, she went a step further. She found out that it was unavailable from Amazon.com in the US, it was only available in the UK. I was very disappointed, to say the least...actually I was devastated. But then, the sweetheart that she is...she offered to order it for me and mail it to me!!! Isn't she just the nicest person in the world??? I was eternally grateful for her and wanted to so something kind in return...so I sent her a box of Girl Scout cookies....what else is a Girl Scout Leader to do when she has oodles of cookies in her house and her hips don't need another stinkin' cookie!!! Well, lo and behold, I went the mailbox and found this inside...

....and I opened it up and found this...

...what a sweet note...see isn't she a sweetheart!! I unwrapped the next layer and found this..

...what a wonderful treat...thank you so much Angela. My mom has already borrowed it and loved it also!!

I received the following award from the Nekked Lizards...we all survived winter, thankfully, and now spring has finally sprung and my garden is starting to burst with color.

Not only did I receive this awesome award from the Nekked Lizards, they also gave me present...yes a present....aren't they wonderful. I went out to my mailbox again and found this...

...and inside this lovely package was this....

...isn't he adorable!!! He kinda looks like our gecko, just a different color. I love him...but we have to keep him a secret from my son because if he sees him he will take him and then he will disappear in the black hole he calls a bedroom.....so mum's the word....I have him hidden on the refrigerator where Michael will never find him...I hope!! Thanks Nekked Lizards..you guys are awesome!

I was also tagged for a meme last week by Kim from Rainy Day Diamonds....

Here are the rules:
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post
4. Tag five or more blogs with links
5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

Since my name is 6 letters and I had so much fun doing the Fun Monday a couple of weeks ago and since a few people said that I didn't include myself in my family (how is this for a run on sentence!!). I am going to use the letters of my name, and even put up a picture of me.

A - adventurous

L - loving

I - intelligent

S - sensitive

O - open minded

N - naughty, at times

I have not visited blogs this week..I hope to get some visiting in tonight. This was a very difficult week for me. I feel like the fog is starting to lift today. I hope to also write another installment in The Journey and post it on Tuesday after the Fun Monday....

Have a great weekend everyone...

Friday Funny

In its January 22, 2008 edition, the Quebec City newspaper, Le Soleil, had a topic about generations by age group. Generations are grouped as follows:

- The Silent generation, people born before 1945.

- The Baby Boomers, people born between 1945 and 1961.

- Generation X, people born between 1962 and 1976.

- Generation Y, people born between 1977 and 2000.

For the last one, one can ask why Y?... A caricaturist explains it eloquently below...

Footprints of a Family, our second adoption journey, part 11

this journey begins here

Every night we went to sleep anticipating a phone call. Every morning we woke up without one.


Monday morning rolled around and we had an appointment with our attorney. If you remember, we retained an attorney and an adoption agency in South Carolina in addition to the attorney and agency we had in California. Our attorney was quite the character. I wish I could use his real name because it was a classic Southern Gentleman's name. For the sake of this story, we will refer to him as Colonel Sanders, because that is exactly who he resembled. I am sure our jaws hit the floor the first time we saw him.

Colonel Sanders had never facilitated an out of state adoption, before ours. The birthfather was not cooperating, at all. In fact he was being difficult, to say the least. This created quite a dilemma for us and it had the potential to be a disaster. The birthfather was ignoring all correspondence and refused to sign any papers. He thought we were paying L and he wanted his fair share. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Sanders was retained in order to circumvent a disaster. His southern hospitality and warm demeanor soon put our fears to rest.


Day after day passed without any signs of labor. I was able to be present at a doctor's appointment with L. I was hoping he would have a crystal ball, or a magic wand to let us know when labor would start. Unfortunately he did not. We would have loved to do some sightseeing, but we were afraid to venture too far from L. We did spend a day in downtown Columbia, and were able to forget, for just a short while, our anxiety. We love old graveyards and found quite a few in the old churches...looking in the past helped us forget our present.


We also spent quite a bit of time with L and her family. We became even closer during this time. We were called to South Carolina early for this reason. In having these days with L before the birth, our bond and love for each other was cemented and made stronger. We also had the opportunity to form a bond with her extended family. The bonds of love were being woven and our families now are intricately tied to one another. I am not sure this would have happened so freely and easily without these days and moments. Looking back now I can see this and appreciate...it was very difficult to see in the moment, if not impossible.


In the moment my heart was breaking being separated from our sweet angel daughter Cassie. Our daily letters and cards graduated to little gifts. Daily we sent a package to her and daily these packages grew in size. Everywhere we went, we saw a reminder of her. These reminders were savored and purchased and sent. A shirt that said "love bug" on it brought tears to my eyes. This was our nickname for her. It was quickly purchased and sent off. I would hold a stuffed animal and wish I was holding her...another purchase, another package.


"Is my baby brother here yet Mommy?"
"Not yet, my love, not yet."
"I prayed last night Mommy and asked God when he was coming. He said soon. When is soon Mommy?"
"I don't know love, I don't know."


L and her mother knew of our anguish. Unfortunately there was nothing any could do....or was there? Isn't there an old wives tale that stated that Castor oil would bring on labor?


Apparently there was, according to L's mother and grandmother. Off Dave and I went looking for Castor oil. Voila, mission accomplished.


Castor oil. A noxious substance. Putrid smell and taste, or so I am told. Desperate times call for desperate measures. One look and whiff of the stuff and we could not force it down L....but her mother and grandmother could, and they did. Poor girl, she barely choked it down before it was coming back up. We felt horrible. We felt worse than horrible. We wanted to run out of that house and hide. Poor L was 40 weeks pregnant and violently ill from the Castor oil and no closer to labor than she was earlier in the day.


This was Saturday, February 12, 2000. We had been in South Carolina for exactly a week now and L was still pregnant, even after the Castor oil.


Maybe the Castor oil had a delayed reaction after all...the next day became very interesting....


to be continued.....