Sweet Syd

Tonight as Syd and I were driving over to the gym to go for a swim, I was asking her what she has been talking to God about lately? Has she been praying about anything specific. "Well, yes", was her answer, "I've been praying for Hannah to come home."
How precious is that?

Things That Don't Suck

Inspired by Shannon's recent post, I thought I'd post my own list of things that don't suck!
In no particular order....

1. The amazing support or friends and family! I know I am sick of this whole situation and yet friends are still willing to check in with me and hear about the wait and continue to pray! I am so grateful for that!

2. While I'm waiting I have had the opportunity to foster two sweet little girls - they are 5 and 3 1/2. They have been with me about 2 1/2 weeks and will be with me about one month total. It really has been a wonderful experience.

3. Puppies sleeping on your lap - snuggly and warm.

4. Knowing you are loved unconditionally by Jesus!

5. Strawberry shortcake with homemade whip cream thanks to my dear sister!

6. Listening to Syd, F. and H. laugh and giggle as they find each other playing hide and seek!

7. Getting pictures of the juice, snacks, stuffed animals and clothes delivered to the BBH for the kiddos!

8. Days warm enough to play outside

9. Wii fit - it's fun and I sweat too! :) (although probably not enough, but were talking about things that "don't suck" so...)

10. Folllowing along on "virtual" friends' blogs who are reuniting with their kiddos and having "gotcha" days! (Sadly none of them from Kyrgyzstan yet!)

Merry Christmas Moonbeam!

Dear Sweet Moonbeam ~

Merry Christmas sweetie. I am thinking of you today and missing you terribly. I wish you were here to join in on all the fun of Christmas morning. Opening lots of Santa presents and looking through your stocking to see what goodies you might find there. Enjoying the yummy french toast that Uncle Denny made especially for us. I wish you could play with your cousin Aleah. I know Syd wishes she could play with you too.

Mama loves you and is praying for you all the time. And praying for the officials that they will get a move on and let you come home soon!

Home Study Update

Today was my home study update visit. It was rather bittersweet for me. I cannot believe that I have to go through all of this paperwork and visits etc yet again and sweet Moonbeam still isn't home. (Insert big, heavy sigh here) I've been feeling rather blue lately. OK - I just re-read what I wrote and I'm thinking "wah, wah! Get over yourself, many families have gone before you and have had to update many times! And someday, this will all be worth it!"

On the sweet side, while here, my social worker and I discussed the domestic waiting child program and how the process will unfold. That is exciting and something to look forward to. She even said that it is possible I may have a child at home by the Fall! Wow! To borrow a line from Pamela, I may be having the longest and the shortest pregnancies simultaneously! ACK!

Funny story, Syd told the social worker that she cannot wait for Hannah 1 and Hannah 2 to come home. :-) Even though I have told her they will not both be named Hannah, she tells me, "well, we don't know what the 2nd little girl's name will be so I'm just going to call her Hannah 2 for now." Ahhh, laughter, it's good for the soul.

I Think He likes Me Better

I just came back from a very brief business trip to Orlando. I left yesterday at 3pm and I'm already home. Here's an excerpt from my conversation with Syd when I got home tonight...

Syd....Did you go to Disney World?
Me.....No
Syd....Awww. Was it a business trip?
Me.....Yeah
Syd.....Awwww. I was hoping you'd get me a present from Disney.
Me.......Oh, well, I didn't make it to Disney
Syd......Well, I'm going to buy my own present when we go on vacation.
Me.......Says who?
Syd......Says me. With money from Papa
Me.......(cracking up) You are one lucky little girl. You know Papa never gave me money when I was a little girl
Syd.......Well, I think he likes me better!

And you know what, I think she's right :-)

Crazy Eights...tagged

We interrupt the waiting for a game of ....

It's true; I've been tagged by the dear Maria in a game of Crazy Eights.

8 Things I'm looking forward to...
1. Bringing home Hannah

2. Meeting Jesus face to face
3. Asking Him lots of questions - like what's up with this wait? (in a most respectful way!)

4. Maternity Leave which leads me to my next dream...

5. No more travel for work :-)

6. Leading worship in Breckenridge this Fall with my band peeps.

7. Watching Syd and Hannah get to know each other

8. Watching Hannah get to know Lucy and Cleo - now that should be a hoot!

8 Things I did Yesterday
1. Presented all day long at a user group meeting for my sales job

2. Watched the Nuggets lose - it was a great series though.

3. Updated my blog with great news of answered prayer!
4. Got the scoop from Ann about the day in DC by phone :-)
5. Enjoyed a Drumstick (of the ice cream variety)

6. Got up way too early, in my opinion! (6am)
7. Caught up with an old friend, Marcy (she was at the user group meeting). She was one of the first to convince me that, of course, I could figure out how to pay for an international adoption! She's a single AP of two adorable girls from Guatemala.

8. Went to bed way too late (Midnight)

8 Things I wish I could do

1. Be a stay at home Mom
2. Bring my mom back.

3. Adopt at least one more child internationally

4. Speak Spanish Fluently

5. Learn Russian

6. Spend a month in Europe - especially Italy

7. Keep Cleo and Lucy alive forever!

8. Sing in a Broadway Musical

8 Shows I watch (sadly, I probably can fill this list!)

1. Lost

2. The Closer

3. Ugly Betty

4. Barefoot Contessa (LOVE her!)

5. Will & Grace

6. Giada at Home

7. Anything with Ice Skating

8. Battlestar Galactica (I'm a scifi geek!)

8 Fellow Bloggers tagged:

1. Ann at My Adoption Geography

2. Lisa at Ladybug Baby

3. Shannon at Bringing Home Our Angel

4. Pamela at Pamela's Adoption Journey

5. Jes at An Incredible Journey Home

6. Laura at TomAndLaura's Journey

7. Jackie at Me Plus One

8. Suzanne at Steeper Than Expected

Happy May Day!

In honor of the first day of one of my favorite months, I thought I'd post some photos taken by the delightful Miss Syd! This photo shoot occurred on a very snowy day a couple of weeks ago and she had such a blast taking all of these. I know she'll be thrilled to see them on my blog :-)

Yeah, Lucy's not a very big fan of the snow. Considering her belly is only about 2 inches off the ground and there's more than 6 inches of snow on our deck who can blame her?

The marvelous Cleo.

Lucy is happiest on some one's lap!

OK, so they're both happiest on my lap.

The only trouble is where will there be room for my two furry girls when Hannah gets home?

Now, there's a problem I'd like to have a need to solve!

Springtime in the Rockies

Syd the snow angel

The deck and my favorite tree - the Blue Spruce.

I wish I had some fabulous news to share about Hannah's homecoming, but alas, the wait continues. We aren't likely to hear much more before the second week of April - and I'm probably being hopeful.

So, anywho, while we wait...I heard on the news last night that so far this year we have had just under two inches of snow and the norm is 26 inches! Well, today we are trying to catch up! It's hard to tell exactly how much we've had, but I would guess it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 inches and it's not supposed to stop snowing until sometime tomorrow am. Of course, it will likely all melt before the weekend is over. It's supposed to be in the 50's on Saturday. Never a dull moment around here.

Fun with the Wii

Tonight we had my dad over for dinner for some Pesto Pizza - Yum! After dinner Syd said, "So, Papa, what do you say we play some Wii?" Too cute! So she, and my 68 year old dad, proceeded to play a game of Wii Bowling. And Papa bowled a 192! Wow! Not bad for an "old guy" - that's what Syd calls him.

Syd has made Papa his very own Mii - complete with a white mustache and thinning white hair! It cracks me up.

As I watched my dad get a Turkey (I learned tonight that's 3 strikes in a row) I thought of how much fun he has with Syd and how much fun it will be to watch him bond with Hannah. He has been a bit reserved in his comments about my pending adoption - I think mostly because he's worried about me and how long this is taking. But as I watch him sit with Syd on his lap messing with what little hair he has left, I am convinced that he will adore Hannah just as much as he adores Syd and I can't wait to watch it unfold!

By the way, the picture above is from last Summer on our deck - I didn't think to take any pictures tonight. I'm gonna have to work on that.

"It's all in the wrist, Auntie"

Today is the first day of Spring Break for Syd and she is home with me. She's not feeling too well. Poor kid. We were playing some Monopoly and she was kicking my butt! She kept rolling doubles and getting to take extra turns, but somehow she was only rolling them two times in a row and not three which lands you in jail. What a lucky girl. Well, I ended up in jail and could not roll doubles to save my life - when I commented on this she told me, "It's all in the wrist, Auntie" What a riot! Syd says she'll be teaching Hannah how to roll doubles and beat me at Monopoly as soon as she's old enough.

When I asked what she'd like for lunch she told me "Pickles, cheese and Milanos" (yes the cookies) I think I must have made a strange face, because she said "Come on, I AM SICK"

Out of the mouths of babes....

Tonight as I was checking email and getting ready for the week I heard my sweet little 9 year old niece Sydney come out of her room and say,
"Mommy, why did God give us belly buttons?"
I didn't hear my sister's answer, but I know for sure what mine would have been....
Belly buttons are the best spots for "zerbits"!
For those unfamiliar with the term - from Urban Dictionary

1. zerbit
n. The act of allowing one's lips and cheeks to vibrate while pressed firmly against a bare abdomen and exhaling forcefully. It usually elicits many giggles and protests from the victim to stop. syn. belly bubbles
AACK!!! It tickles too much when you give me a zerbit!

Ohhh how I look forward to zerbitting my sweet little Hannah!

When's Hannah comin' home, Auntie?

Precious words from my dear niece Syd who will turn 8 next week! She walked into my room tonight and asked this question – out of the blue – proving once again that she thinks about my pending adoption on a regular basis!
"Actually", she'll tell you "it was my idea!" And this is partially true. One morning about six months ago she walked into this same room and asked me very matter of factly "why don't you have kids auntie?" to which my only reply was a stuttered "well, I guess because I'm not married" to which she answered just as bluntly "well why don't you adopt then?" It's all so simple, isn't it? And her innocent, but very serious question started me on the most amazing adventure of my life – the journey towards adoption!
I can't wait for you to come home Hannah!