Tuesday, January 31, 2006

WAAAAAAAAAAA

Soooooo sad today!!! I was a little premature in ASSUMING that I was DTC on Jan 27 !!!! I had even announce to people that I AM DTC !!!!!!!!!!! I have a post with picture all planned and EVERYTHING!!! I had not heard OFFICIAL word back that I was indeed DTC Jan 27.... SO I EMAILED my agency ...... So sad, BAD NEWS. I guess that My Dossier is sitting in Canada waiting to be batched and sent out this Friday....... FEBRUARY 3!!!! "SO what is the big deal waiting another week?" some would ask.... One week puts me into FEBRUARY. I have joined January DTC group including the Secret Pal exchange.... I was so looking forward to being DTC with Donna, Holly and Stephe. I might just stay in that group and join the February group!!! Being part of two DTC groups and secret pal exchange just might be overkill but what else will I be doing while waiting???? Besides decorating the nursery, de-junking the kingdom, planning what to do about day care.... Hmmmmmmm, I just might not have time for two groups..... I am in a dilemma.....

SO SAD!!!!

Sunday, January 29, 2006

MR. GUNG'S HAY MAKES A FAT MRS. CHOY



Gung Hay Fat Choy! The first time I saw that on my comments I thought "is someone trying to recommend a delicious dish of food to order at a Chinese restaurant?" .... I am brilliant, so it only took me about a gzillion blogs to realize .... it must mean Happy New Year or some kind of a greeting. So right back at ya... GUNG HAY FAT CHOY or Mr. Gung's hay make a fat Mrs. Choy. WHATEVER....

For fun today and in the mood for self celebration of the CNY (no CNY celebrations on Sunday in this town) I baked the Barefoot Contessa's Coconut Cupcakes.. with cream cheese frosting (YUMMMMM) and to make these treasures of scrumptious YUMMMMS in the spirit of Chinese New Year I dyed the coconut RED!!!! I passed it out to friends and family with the above greeting.... Mr Xia and Fong (my neighbors) were the first to get this greeting.... I only hope that the characters were indeed saying the intended greeting.... I have entrusted the Internet blindly on this one.....

YEAR OF THE DOG

I posted earlier that I was a Rooster and my Tate would also be a Rooster.... How can two Roosters girls get along???? Then I got to thinking that likely due to the slowdown of referrals, Tate will probablly be born this month which would put her in the YEAR OF THE DOG!!!! I love dogs..... not too excited about Roosters... at least as animals go....

SO CHEERS TO THE YEAR OF THE DOG!!!!



1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit.
(AND I HOPE ROOSTERS!!!!!---- YEAH!!!!!!)

Saturday, January 28, 2006

WHAT'S COOKING FOR DINNER?

Quick and Easy Dinner.....
It's not low fat but really... is anything that is delicious LOW FAT???

ANGEL CHICKEN PASTA

6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
1/4 C butter
1 (.7 ounce) package of dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/2 C white wine or chicken broth
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup
4 ounces of cream cheese with chives
1 pound of angel hair pasta

1- preheat oven to 325 degrees
2-In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the package of dressing mix. Blend in wine or broth and golden mushroom soup. Mix in cream cheese and stir until smooth. Heat through but do not boil. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9x13 baking dish. Pour sauce over.
3- Bake for 60 minutes in the preheated oven. Just before the chicken is done, cook pasta until al dente. Drain and serve chicken and sauce over pasta..

ENJOY!!!

Friday, January 27, 2006

MUSINGS

I have a COLD.... A bad cold!!!!! A got to get the drugs in every 4 hours or I am miserable kind of COLD!!!!!!!! So I am thinking, A LOT!!!!

MUSING I
What will I do with Tate when I am this sick???? Venture out in the cold in a drugged induced state of mind to get her to her day care???? Call MOM??? Deal with it by entertaining her with TV and videos while I lay in my bed??? This is a major issue to us singles who do not have a spouse to pitch in and help with the care of our babes. So I started thinking of my support system and how I can have a game plan just in case this happen when I have Tate.... I have very supportive of family.... Mom, Dad and Sister-in-Law. I have friends who say they are willing to help out.... but no one lives real close to me..... Do I move closer to family???? Make connections to my neighbors???? Whew.... I need to take more Dayquil and think more on it.... Anyone have suggestions????

MUSING II
In my state of sickness I am neglecting Mesa, the dog.... She did not get her ususal play in the Dog Park when I am home from work outing today.... I am sick plus it is SNOWING!!! So in my creative got to take care of my loved ones mentality, I put her in the backyard of one of her puppy friends, Turbo, for a little romp and fun. WET DOG!!!! I take a towel and rub her semi-dry with her tail wagging the whole time and then head back to bed..... Thirty minutes later Mesa heads out the doggie door and out into the snow for just enough time to require a rub-down again..... MORE TAIL WAGGING!!!!!!!!... Back in bed.... ONCE AGAIN Mesa heads outside gets wet and requires another rub-down.....MORE TAIL WAGGING..... Hmmmmmmm.... I get out of bed to shut the dog door to a very disappointed puppy stare.

MUSING III
What to eat???? Can't really taste a thing!!!!!! Good you might think...lose a few pounds while being sick!!!!!!!!! But my stomach is hungry and the Dayquil just is not satisfying!!!! Hmmmm.... Something spicy??? So I scramble eggs and add Tabasco sauce.... I can't taste the eggs but boy did that Tabasco sauce open my sinuses!!!!!! I can breathe!!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

MISSING COUSIN

I am not sure if this is the right FORUM to talk about this but I have to do something.
This is a request for my readers who live in California and States bordering California to keep a look out for my missing cousin..... BEN BRUNSVIK........


How can a 49 yr old 6 ft 2 inch 225 lb man in a car just DISAPPEAR???? He has been missing since last Thursday… However no one was aware that he was missing until Friday because he was heading out of town to Sacramento to see a client with possibilities of staying over night.….We are all sick with worry over this. Please everyone in these areas keep your eyes open when you are out and about and remember him in your prayers….

www.helpfindben.com

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

FLASHBACK TUESDAY I

Since starting my Blog, I have had so much going on that I didn't share at the time because of one thing or the other but I thought that eventually I will share in installments. These things do not have a thing to do with my adoption and voyage to Tate but no the less it was part of my life since starting the BLOG. This is the first of these installments.

This is a little side note from the original posting.....I am so lucky that I have an elderly (60-ish?) couple from Beijing China living next door to me. I call him Mr. Xia (Shaw) and her Fong. I am not sure why I call her by her first name and he by his last. It just happened this way. They are very quiet and I do not get to see them often. Last Summer I noticed Mr. Xia in his backyard and had the normal exchange between neighbors. I decided that I would share my news that I was starting my adoption process from China. I was unsure how he would take it, but decided to tell him anyway. He was overjoyed!!! He has two sons, one who is still living in China and unmarried, and another living in the Bay Area and also unmarried. He told me that he wished he would have had a daughter because he wishes for the love, comfort and sweetness in a daughter and cannot wait to hold my daughter. He is sick with Emphysema. He also told me that when he tells his wife (Fong) she will cry!!! I realize that Fong is not of the age that the one child policy would have affected her directly, but who knows if she knows others who have been affected by this sorrowful policy. They will be Tate's Chinese Grandparents... They are so excited for me. Funny thing, one time I left to go out of town for a few days and Fong thought that I had gone to China to get Tate. She now knows how it takes to adopt and when I plan on traveling

FLASHBACK I


This December I was in the back of my house and heard this bam, bam, and BAMMMM!!!!! Something hit my house which made the dog shoot back to where I was sitting (reading a Blog I am sure). I ran out front to see what had happen, only to see Fong in her car which had hit the front of the house. I guess she was backing out and didn't see a car on the street that she hit once, got startled and tried to go forward but hit again then got the car in DRIVE and gassed it trying to get back in her driveway. Due to the speed she was going, she lost control and hit into my house. Luckily she was not hurt, just a little SHOOK-UP. The thing is that once the first hit happened with the car on the street, another neighbor looked out her window and saw it happening and called 911. She was not aware that it was Fong and just thought that someone rammed into the car because they were mad at the owner of the car. This 911 call generated two police cars, one fire engine, one ambulance and THE HELICOPTER FROM THE LOCAL NEWS STATION which hovered above this whole seen. TOO FUNNY!!! Needless to say that this whole emergency scene was a total overkill with no harm done but one car, my house (ouch) and an unhurt shocked Fong. Bless her heart!!!!

Friday, January 20, 2006

WHISPERS OF JUBILATION

SCREAMS and BACKFLIPS

I have had an encounter with my Seductress (FED EX) via my tracking number.... I see that my D has left Assistant Stork into the hands of Fed Ed and has arrived in the city of my China Coordinator (HI TERI) this am...... I am beyond excited that soon I will be able to have a REAL DTC date to add to my timeline and to cement into my heart and mind..... instead of that Mystical unknown date that was out there!!!!! So Teri... give a kiss to my D when you place it once again the hands of my seductress and in my heart I will be singing a prayer for a safe and speedy DTC and LID!!!!!

IN DEFENSE

WHEW!!!!!!! My last picture post really ruffled some feathers...I have to defend my friend here... She really has been a great friend... Her hesitation is because she worries so much that I will get hurt!!! She has been there for me for years through a relationship with my long term ex-boyfriend with a open ear and heart.... She knows how much having CHILDREN has meant to me..... She also is not SCHOOLED in the world of International Adoption and has her information from sensationalized stories from rumors, assumptions, and the media.... She now is enlightened that adopting from China is not a scam.... Her hesitation and negativity is because she is concerned for me and my tender heart. Also... She is the same age as me (48 yrs old) and is putting herself in my place where I am single and with a toddler.... Although her kids were born when she was in her mid to late thirties, her kids are more at an independent age and she just can't imagine having a baby and toddler to chase around at this age..... I loved that she gave me this picture!!!!!! It just affirms the love and the support she has for me and my adoption......

Thursday, January 19, 2006

COSMIC


We all know someone who is skeptical and almost negative about our choice to adopt. My friend not only was negative and skeptical about my adoption but she knew for sure that I was going to fork out thousands of dollars and not get my daughter. When she realized that I was still going with the adoption plans, she relented by saying if I indeed got my daughter, then she will be my biggest supporter ....*IF* I get my daughter!!! One day while on a family vacation in San Diego, she comes across this ceramic tile. Her first reaction was that she wished that the mother in the picture had dark hair so that it would represent her and her daughters. All of a sudden it hit her...Thishis picture was meant for me. A blond-haired mother with an Asian daughter. Cosmic to quote her exact words. She knew that because of this COSMIC finding things will work out and I will be united with my daughter.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

TIMELINE

I have been asked to post a timeline for Tate .... So under links I have created another Blog page called TIMELINE TO TATE.... But... I still have other important dates to add (DTC, LID, REFERRAL, TA, blah blah.....) but here is what I have so far.... Oh and I joined January DTC group today including the secret pal gig!!!! I can't wait to meet all my fellow DTC ers!!!! Good things are happening!!!!!!

PARENT PRACTICE CASE STDY I

Whew talk about a parent defining moment......
I've been practicing the parenting skills on my 90 lbs of lovin' snuggle puppy fun....MESA. So I am noticing that Mesa has been acting a little "SICK".... weepy eyed, raspy breath, and runny nose. However this sickness is not going to stop her from playing outside in the cold with her puppy buddies Turbo and Scout. It snowed today and I stayed indoors baking, blogging, and lazying around. This was the perfect time for Mesa to rest up and veg-out. I pull out my stethoscope and check her breathing. Lungs all clear but I assess she needs something to help her RELAX and dry out that runny nose.... Ah.... Benadryl would clear her secretions AND help her sleep..... Benadryl did clear the sinuses but the little pill made her HYPER!!!!!!!!! Here I was homebound in the snow with a hyper 90 lb dog who wanted my attention constantly.

Note to self.... Always check how benadryl affects child (or practice child... Dog) before opting its use in helping to modify behavior..... Just a thought for the plane

ride home....

TAGGED

I’ve been tagged by Donna of Waiting for Lauren Elizabeth

What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had just started working for Continental Airlines and I was probably on a trip somewhere fun…
What were you doing 1 year ago?
Taking a crash course on belly dancing….
Five snacks I enjoy
Frosting and whatever is under the FROSTING
Lattes…. like to experiment with flavor
CHOCLATE…. Rich, dark, sweet, melty in the mouthy –NO NUTS please
Laffy Taffy --- a great chew plus a joke
PEEPS !!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!
Five songs to which I know all the lyrics
National Anthem
Silent Night 1st verse only
I can hum anything -- I am just WORD CHALLENGED
Theme to Green Acres
Theme to Brady Bunch
Five things I would do if I were a millionaire
Pay off mine and siblings debts and mortgages
Buy a family cabin in the Mountains close to a lake
Buy my Dad the car of his dreams and pay for weekly cleaning lady for Mom
Adopt a second and third daughter from China
Invest in the future
Five bad habits (as taken from the list of X-Boy Friend)
Sniff too much
Pee too often
Nibble and want to taste everyone’s food
Get bored too easily
Can’t make up my mind
Five things I like doing
Taking rides in the car thru the mountains
Entertain family and friends
Cooking something new and exotic
Hanging out in Nature
Going to the dog park with Mesa (90 lbs of lovin’ snuggle puppy)
Five thing I would never wear, buy, or get new again
I have to go with the stirrup pants too
Add colors like pink or green or purple to my hair
Get a tattoo
Pierce anyplace under the ear area
Buy hip boots
Five favorite toys
My dog
Kitchen Aid and Cuisinart (mini and large sizes)
New furniture sander with vacuum suction action (quick to sand- no dust!!!)
Computer….
Digital camera

So here is the deal: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot.
An Elephant’s Gestation
So, its come down to this
Gwen Blog
Waiting for Lauren Elizabeth
Tate-R-Bug

Then select five people to tag:
Amy of Ruby in her Own Time, Tiffany of Eliza's Story, Holly of Sarah Grace, Lee-Ann of Waiting for Bella

Saturday, January 14, 2006

REFLECTIONS

Today as I move last year’s most important calendar information into the future year’s calendar, I cannot help reflect what has transpired the last year and ponder on the wonders of the up coming year.

As I scan each month for important birthdays I hit upon the milestones of my adoption. First it is the unsure decision to adopt in February, the decision made with an application in May. Then the amazing day on July 11 when I get the SHOCKER call from my agency that I have a single slot and could start the PAPERCHASE!!!! More milestone of a physical, series of home studies, background checks, fingerprinting, I-600A, I-171H…. and now in 2006 I am the proud owner of the BROWN ENVELOPE.

As each month passed and I recorded future events, I started to wonder where I will place Tate’s birthday? Is this the month that I will be writing got referral, travel approved (TA), leave for Beijing, Metcha day, back home??? SIGH…. Then the holidays and the joy of having Tate for these days (I am hopeful)…..

I am not alone…. Everyone can say they have these important dates and reflections of the past, the present and the future of this AMAZING JOURNEY to get our DAUGHTERS. This is what makes us an Adoption Community and FAMILY.

Friday, January 13, 2006

BROWN SHOCKER


OH MY..... Look what the mailman just brought me!!!!! I am in SHOCK!!!!!!! Had to call my awesome Coordinator, Teri, just to make sure that it was okay to open!!!!!!!! I am officially approved to go get my little TATE!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 12, 2006

PRECIOUS PRESENT


In celebration of my impending DTC.... May I present my precious gift from my Mom. Words cannot express the soul warming happiness this gift has given me.... When you are not visibly prego well, I think people just forget the joy, anticipation, and mind boggling changes we are making in our lives. Don't get me wrong, I have a love-hate relationship when people ask how things are going..... But to get a sweet reminder that soon a baby will grace this family and fill in this outfit..... PRICELESS!!!!!

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I don't know what I was thinking..... Get the Dossier out of my hands and BAMMMMM.... You are like DTC fast..... Okay.... Just heard from my coordinator, she has Fed Ex'd it to Assistant Stork.... So I am thinking Assistant Stork will RUN (not walk) my little bundle of lovin' six months of paperchase into the appropriate places in our Nation's Capitol.... Hmmmmmmmm..... I guess *I* am not the only person who know about Assistant Stork???? What???? I have to wait my turn????? Are they not AWARE that the world revolves around me and my little Tate???? Has Assistant Stork not been notified of this???? Maybe I will not be DTC and LID as quickly as I had hoped.... But I will tell you one thing my friends...... They don't call me LUCKY LISA for nothing!!!!!!! I am not giving up hope!!!!!!!! Oh, and I am not really this much of a egocentric BRAT as I am making myself out as......

LULLABY

I have got to learn some lullabies....especially the words. I either make up the wrong words or start off with the right words which quickly turn to Blah Blah Blah, Hummmm.... I can see Tate singing a lullaby to her baby doll. "Rock-a-bye baby in the..... BLAH BLAH. HUUUUUMMMMMMMMM"....
Any help out there????

Monday, January 09, 2006

DANCE OF SEDUCTION

I begin my Dance of seduction with Fed Ex....
Today as I delivered my Dossier in the hands of this seductress...I watched and looked and knew in the future Fed Ex will turn into something more then just a delivery service. At first, from a far, I will gaze lovingly and wishfully. I will think today my D is in the hands of someone who does not know the importance of what they are carrying and delivering to my China Coordinator. Tomorrow I will think someone else is carelessly holding my D and getting it to Assisted Stork. Finally someone will understand the importance of this bundle of love. The dance continues and finally after so many Fed Ex workers have touched my D.... I will know that my D is in the hands of someone who owns my future.

Seduction from a far…. Flirtation and longing on my part, as I gaze at all Fed Ex vans …. September I will start the full dance. Sightings in my neighborhood will bring excitement and longing. Heart stopping, breath taking, with sightings on my street. Is this my Temptress? Finally I get “the knock”. Gasp. Open. The dance of seduction is over.

Lovingly I will drive pass a Fed Ex van and know that my seductress no longer has power over me, as I look in the rear view mirror to see my outcome …TATE.

TEARS

I cried today....Tears of mourning...
Mourning the loss of my singleness, lack of responsibility and cherished spontaneity,
The tears stopped.
SIGH....
BREATHE....
I cried today....Bigger tears of joy...
Of my future, of children, of love, of happiness, and the start of my own little family.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

READY TO SEND

Documents are ready to send out with the Fed Ex-ers tomorrow bright and early. Hmmmmm.... Well, when I wake up and get ready.

~Letter of application to request adoption to Chinese Government....Humbly and respectfully written.
~Letter of Single Heterosexual and proof..... How do you prove something like that???
~Certification of Good Health from MD..... who I have learned to hate since it took her 2 1/2 months to get this done thus stalling my DTC by at least 2 months.....Hate daggers going her way!!!! Yahhhhhh!!!!
~Certification of Employment, Salary, Financial Statement ..... real shocker... Is that really my "WORTH"???- Yikes!!!!!!!
~Criminal Background checks, both local and FBI....Fingerprints and the COVETED I-171H..... Jumping through the HOOPS!!! PRICELESS..
~ Letter of Guardianship.....the easiest to do- thanks John and Michelle- love ya!!! Hmmmm... did I mention that this goes for Tate as well as MESA... 90 lbs of Snuggle Lovin' dog? Surprise.
~All Notarized, State Certified, and off to Washington DC for the rest....
~And Pictures of house, me, copy of passport, and my 2 x 2 photo of me as a Blond Asian woman.... Ha ha

GOOD BYE 6 MONTHS LABOR OF LOVE.... Hopes and prayers go with you on this journey of a lifetime....

Saturday, January 07, 2006

PUPS and SCONES




Puppy buddies and Baking buddies!!!! Polly and Scout came for a visit!!! While Mesa entertained her 5 month old puppy bud, Scout....Lisa and Polly baked scones!!!! Now this is not the AMERICAN version of deep fried dough.... not for these two adventuresome gals.... This is the second and successful attempt of making the Breakfast Tea Scones of the Jolly Ole Brits... First attempt and the most delicious by far was the orange and cranberry scones. This day it was the Gingerbread with Pecans and an ever so slight hint of rum and maple glaze. Starbucks has nothing on us!!!!!!!

P.S. Someone get me some windex for the glass window.....Oh and someone come and clean that glass door....PRONTO!!!!!!!!!

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!

I just realized what I have been doing!!!! This has got to stop...Nip-it in the butt before it takes over my life....I find that while I am on the phone, computer or Bloggin' it , Mesa the 90 lb lovin' snuggle Pup is hounding me (no pun intended) and to pacify her I am FEEDING her!!!! I have got to get out of this habit before I get Tate and I do the same thing to her....I could just see me and Tate, as a 250 lb 3 year old, on Dr Phil. "Tomorrow's show.... Loving her daughter or Abuse and Neglect????? You be the JUDGE!!!!" Maybe I could clear all the junk off the treadmill and USE IT by hooking up Mesa for a long walk while I sit in front of the computer ??? Something has to be done.

Friday, January 06, 2006

BLOND ASIAN

Oh-
Just got back from doing the last thing I needed for my Dossier....The 2 x 2 passport size picture....I already have a valid passport so this was just for the Dossier... I started reading a Single Adopt China Chat group a while ago and one of the obsessions talked about in this chat group was the fact that this 2 x 2 picture was the only picture that the CCAA uses to match you with your baby. This got me thinking that I better look good for that picture cause I wanted a cute baby..As if any baby could be other than cute.... I am blond and blue eyes so how could they really match me to an Asian child based on my looks? Kinkos did a great job in taking that picture and I look like a blond blue-eyed Asian woman..... Hard to explain but even the counter girl thought so....Hmmmmmmmm.......... Fate to the rescue!!!

MOMMA OR GRANDMA

People say the stupidest things. Sometimes it can be real comical. The other day at work a funny thing happen to me….After months of chatting about the adoption to anyone around and willing to listen, a friend pulls me aside and says “I know you are single but, are you opposed to having your own biological baby?” I told her that I was 48 yrs old…a *young 48 yr old* and I did not think that I wanted to try to have a baby at this age….The next day I was on E Bay looking and shopping for little girl things for my little Tate. A twenty-something gal said to me “I wish you were my daughter’s grandmother”…. I just smiled and asked her about her daughter. I must be in that *CUSP*.... I look young enough to birth some baby or old enough to be a grandma to a two year old…. TOO FUNNY ......... FREAK!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 05, 2006

hyperlink test

ruby kisses ball
This is just a test...picture of RUBY CATE... Amy is teaching all sort of stuff about how to add things to my Blog....This internet computer stuff is so new to me and I seem so OUT OF TOUCH...I don't even have instant messenger....Well, I used to not have but once again thanks to Amy, I now have load it and should be able to figure this all out.... Welcome to Cyber space Lisa...

CONFESSION

I have a confession to make …Please don’t be hatin’….On December 1st I had my Dossier ready to be Fed Ex’d to my agency….I am scared to death. This is the final and last step that I will have control of. I am not a control freak by any means, but once I send off my Dossier there will be no turning back!!! I am scared to death!!!! I have always wanted to be a mother. I have always wanted to adopt an Asian child. I just never thought I would be doing this ALONE. Not only am I alone, but I am OLD…I have no shyness of my age…I am 48 almost 49 (a young 49 yr old) in March. I think that when Tate is 20 I will be 69 years old!!! What am I thinking? But then I think of the joy of a child….This child will be the world to me. In my heart of hearts I know that I am supposed to do this thing of adoption…. Without getting religious, I know that there is not a random child in China for me but a specific one meant for me…. I feel her spirit along my side. Did I mention….I AM SCARED TO DEATH?????!!!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER BOOK





Do you know a person who you have known forever... yet, cannot place how you had met??? I have such a friend....Bonnie. We both feel that we had known each other from somewhere, yet we both cannot figure where. I have actually known Bonnie and her family for 23+ years!!! I started hangin' with her after the birth of her first daughter, Jasmine, and now her first grand-daughter Meilee, Jasmine's daughter. It is now my turn to have a daughter. Bonnie has been there for me. She was one of the friends who I asked to do a referral letter. She provided me with an amazing letter full of love and strength. I will cherish the words she wrote on my behalf. Today we got together to exchange Christmas gifts and *do lunch*.....Her gift brought me to tears as it signified how she loves and supports me in my decision to adopt as a 40+ year old single woman. Thank you Bonnie for this lovely book. I WILL CHERISH IT....

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

DOMESTIC GODDESS

I have been working TONS.... Hospitals do not closed down during the Holidays and some of us are *LUCKY* enough to work. HEE HEE... I was lucky enough to put in an average of 60 hours each week during the month of December. I missed most of the Holiday celebrations. No sympathy please... it was my choice. In the back of my mind I envisioned next year spending and cherishing every Holiday with Tate. Extra time = extra money.... Something that would be so great to have just to buy all the baby items!!!!!!! I am back finally to my "NORMAL" work schedule.... What are the plans for all this cherished time off???? I cannot wait to cook and clean and paint the kitchen and re-finish three furniture projects.... and and and YIPPEE!!! I never thought I would look forward to such domestic activities!!!!!

Monday, January 02, 2006

ROOSTER GALS

Julie from Wandering Child mentioned that this is the year we all get our BABIES!!!! This thought just took my breath away... I have chills just writing this!!!! This would mean that my little Tate will be from the year of the Rooster.....

The Rooster is a hard worker; shrewd and definite in decision making and often speaking her mind (speaking her mind! - she should fit right in with this family). As a child, the Rooster-born will be a self-starter. A good student, fast learner and industrious little soul, she will be forever poking around for answers. You can rely on her to pursue her studies, or anything else that attracts her, with self-generated zeal. It will be a joy to teach her, as she is sharp, intelligent and precise.

I am from the year of the Rooster... How is that going to mesh two Rooster gals???? Will we be pals and buds or butt heads and fight??? If I believe in this cosmic stuff I would be getting kind of worried by this...