Hodge Podge

Ok, so here's a random sampling of two weeks worth of pictures that I just cleared off my camera. First, there's Braden, Erin's darling little boy who, by the way, is ALL boy! Can you tell from this action picture!? Next is a picture of Ruthann and her little man, Don IV! Yes, he's the 4th in a long line of Don's. After that there are some beach pics and a surprise at the end!







Sara holding Don while Erin compares the boys' tiny feet!









This one is for my father in law - you know what it is, right!?
The homemade cargo rack traveling down I-75 that was very well done :)



And, last but certainly not least, this little one is Katie! She is our inspiration for John! Thanks to her folks, Rob and Shawnee, John is our little miracle! Isn't she a doll? She looks fragile and porcelian-like, but she's gonna give John a run for his money when he gets home. She's a tough cookie and not afraid of anything! But, most of all, she adores books. Considering her dad just finished a book on Judges, I guess it's appropriate! Congrats Rob!

Muckety.com

I found the coolest site!

Check it out...

http://www.muckety.com/
"Exploring the paths of power and influence"

"Muckety is published by Muckety LLC, a company founded in 2006 by a team with years of experience in journalism, technology and online publishing. The name Muckety derives, of course, from muckety mucks. Some follow the money. We follow the muckety, producing a daily news and information site based on online databases (which we enlarge daily), extensive research and old-fashioned journalism. We strive for accurate, timely, objective journalism. Although you may sometimes see ads with a political point of view (served automaticallythrough ad services such as Google AdSense), we aim to be nonpartisan in our maps, news stories and databased information. Our founders/editors are award-winning journalists Laurie Bennett, Gary Jacobson and John Decker."

I tried "Obama" and was shocked to see how many past and present presidents he is related to! Crazy! And, I haven't quite wrapped my head around it yet!

Have fun!

I found this beautiful quote on an adoption blog and couldn't help but share it:

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands."
-Kristi Larson

Life Goes On...

I consider myself a pretty tolerant individual. But, this week, driving around in South FL has me wound up about a few things. Can I share with you my Top 10? I tend toward a moderate view of my glass half full and half empty. (How is that for a clear & concise answer?! That is to say that I can't decide which I am - half full or half empty. I guess ask me each day and I might have a different answer. My dear mothers and girlfriends...which am I? You can tell the world better than I anyway. )

That being said...I'll start out with the Top 10 Best of my little vacation:

10. Naps
9. A good book
8. Choosing where & when total relaxation takes place
7. Sand
6. Driving on Ocean Rd. with the windows down
5. Bath temperature pool water
4. The smell of the salt water
3. The heat
2. The sound of the waves
1. The nights are still as warm as the days

And now on to the Top 10 Worst of my little vacation:

10. The traffic
9. The drivers
8. Roadwork
7. Car horns - what is this? NY City?
6. The traffic
5. The drivers
4. Roadwork - oh, I'm repeating myself, huh?
3. Don't have anything that tops out at #3
2. Memories and places change so much
1. Despite all of this...that it has to end

Hot-t-t

We have some hot news! Yep, the weather is hot, but so is the news about John! His court date is August 4th! We don't know when we'll travel, but praise the Lord his date is set! His social worker reviewed our case on Monday and all is set for the judge! Yes, it means more waiting. But, we're getting somewhere!

Below are some pics of our hotel and the beach. More to come soon!



Our hotel...pretty huh? It's not a lot to sneeze at, but it's
across the street from the Four Seasons, ha!

The intercoastal waterway - it's been fun to watch the boat traffic!

And, a pic of the room

I have to add this picture for mom. Don't worry - see the spread Charley has to tide him over for the day?!

Can I just say...it is HOT here in sunny Palm Beach, FL. No wonder the locals all head north for the summer. However, since it's the "off season" we are not met with a flood of people at the ocean or pool. It's relaxing and just what the Dr. ordered. Sunday was really restful. We went to the beach, drove around and just enjoyed the day. Today I went to Delray Beach, a fun town on the coast, just off Ocean Dr., St. rd. A1A. It was about a 15 min. drive from our hotel and where my grandfather, and aunt and uncle lived for many years. I took more pictures to come later, but here are a few to tide you over. Charley's job is going well - he left the job at 3pm yesterday! So, we got to spend all of Monday evening together. We even went to the beach again!

The Beach

I have to say...every time I doubt God's hand I hurt both He and myself. This has been, as you all know, a particularly rough time as we wait on John's arrival. Charley has had more travel jobs this summer than anticipated - Wisconsin and now Florida. When he came home to tell me on Monday that they asked him to go to FL for two weeks I was devastated. I whined, I prayed, I just didn't know how I was going to get through without him. I have great friends nearby, but no family, and it's a struggle that only he and I understand right now. So, with great anxiety I waited and prayed and got mad at God. I do that well. He always lets me know how much he is working in my life, but I am just too dumb to see it in the making. As it turns out, I am going to be able to go with Charley the first week of his trip to FL! We are leaving today, Friday, and going down to West Palm Beach, where my mom grew up and I spent many summers as a kid. I can't wait to show Charley all the things I remember from my childhood (even thought it's changed so much, I know!) and sit on the beach with a book and relax. John is named after my grandfather, my mom's dad, and I have so many wonderful memories of his life. Florida is not the same without him, for sure, but I'm sure I can conjure him up in my mind and he'll be beside me while we're there :) The following week my mom will come back with me so that I'm not alone. I've always thought I'm a pretty strong person. But, this waiting on John has me in a nervous bundle!

Happy Birthday Erin!

If I were to make you a cake it would look something like these. Fortunately, I will spare you this year. I love you dear friend!

Notice the butterfly theme?!

Newsflash

There is no news. We keep waiting and waiting and yep, you guessed it...more waiting. John will probably be walking and talking by the time we hop on the plane. At least he'll be potty trained.

I think our mothers' anxiousness combined outweighs ours though.

I think I've gone through a hundred books this summer, trying to keep my mind occupied with something other than...the waiting. By the way, there weren't any great movies at the theater this weekend. Except for the Will Smith one and we just weren't in the mood. Oops, scratch that. I wasn't in the mood. Poor Charley. An aside...we don't have cable right now and I miss my mtv.

I did get to talk to my brother in law on Saturday. He and his wife live in Macedonia and run an English school. I'll leave you with a few pictures from their recent trek up a mountain to a monastery. There was only one monk there, he said.

The Czech Republic

The upcoming election leaves me lying in bed at night awake and yes, worried. (Thanks, mom, for this oh, so wonderful inherited trait.) I won't climb aboard my soapbox today. For which you should be thankful. But, I will recommend a wonderful book by Dominika Dery, The Twelve Little Cakes. (And, yes, it bugs me that I don't have the option in the blog layout to underline my book title.)

The authors voice is wonderful, I laughed out loud too many times to count! Thank you, dear Sue, for turning me on to this book!

---

The Twelve Little Cakes
by Dominika Dery

Long before she was born, Dominika first appeared to her mother in a dream, so when she came to be, she was welcomed with eager expectation and much love. Though her arrival was auspicious, as the child of recognized dissidents associated with the failed Prague Spring uprising, Dominika's life would be far from charmed.

Her mother was disowned by her parents, who were members of the Party elite. Her father was an inventor whose politics resulted in his working as a taxi driver, but who nevertheless remained an unrepentant optimist. Rounding out the family--colorful, even by local standards--were a beautiful, voluptuous teenage sister with many male admirers and an enormous St. Bernard who was a famous Czech TV star. In a village on the outskirts of Prague, full of gossipy neighbors, state informants, friendly old "grandmothers," and small-town prejudices, Dominika grows up a self-possessed child, whose openness and curiosity often lead her, and her family, into trouble. Yet the love, pride, and quirky ingenuity that bind them together will guarantee their survival--and ultimately their happiness--through the best and worst of times. The Twelve Little Cakes is equal parts testimony to the struggle of a bygone era and a love letter to a joy-filled childhood that no external forces could dim.

And, as an inspiration for you to read her book, take a look at her adorable face!

http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s1618537.htm?nsw

Happy 4th of July!

You know how you go through life with different markers by which to live? For me, growing up, it greatly mattered exactly how old I was and when April was coming to mark another year. Or, in school, remember looking forward to summer break and all the great things that meant - trips to the ocean, visiting family and friends, hanging out at the pool? For us, this morning was a blessing. It rained here in Wilmore and while the little hometown parade still floated by our street, we were blessedly trapped in the car with our godchild, Matthew. He isn't feeling too well and combine that with the drizzle of rain, we just decided to forgo the campground and watch the parade from the shelter of the front seat. Whew. My marker for the past several months has been (big surprise here) the arrival of John. I love the 4th...but, watching the families year after year has been detrimental to my health. I agonized before, try to enjoy during, and afterwards anguish both silently and out loud (read: poor husband) that we are not yet raising our family. Ick. Enough. Sorry to be such a downer on such a blessed holiday filled with freedom and spirit. What I mean to say in all of that rambling is that NEXT year I won't have to agonize over watching the families on the 4th! Our family will join the crowds filled with children with gusto. We have much to be thankful for this year, but the next 4th will be extra special as we celebrate as 3.

At least I have the freedom to choose - to foster, to adopt, to try fertility, to choose not to have children. Those are the freedoms I am thankful for this 4th of July. Hurray for a country where the majority is still patriotic and boldly proud of the red, white, and blue!

July!

I've never been so excited for the beginning of another month as I am these days as we wait for updates of our son. This month was a bit hard because friends received their update on Monday and we waited two and half long days to find John's update in our inbox. Of course, my imagination got the best of me and I started thinking scary thoughts. Like...well, you know the drill. But, today, we're back on track! And, you guessed it...we have pictures! I squealed when I opened the first picture. I expect nothing less from you, dear reader. I think he might be the most gorgeous boy God has ever made. I know, I know, every parent thinks these same thoughts. Except, in this case, it's true. Got your hackles up, didn't I, parents? Enjoy...




Your son John is doing amazing. I can't believe how much more aware he
is becoming. For awhile there he just seemed like a very serious baby,
but now we are seeing him smile more and more. He has such a sweet
smile. It will melt your heart. He is also laughing and cooing all the
time now. Lately he has been having a rough time getting to sleep but
when he is out he sleeps all night through. He eats very very well. We
are praying for your family daily and can't wait till we meet you and
can send your son home with you.