Winter walk

Today, while Kevin was away at a presbytery meeting, the girls and I went on a walk. First, let me say I was reminded why we don't do this much in winter. The complaining that Abby did... Ugh. However she warmed up to the idea and stopped wanting to warm up her hands and it ended up being pretty nice.


Hannah enjoying her new scooter.


Little Miss Chilly herself


Showing off her mad skipping skills. I was duly impressed, esp. since at a training this year I was told that skipping is a good predictor of reading success (something about the brain's ability to do multiple tasks).

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Double Edged

This morning I had my monthly check in with our adoption coordinator. Normally they go along the lines of---
~"haven't heard anything yet"
~"any changes we need to make?"
~"do you have any questions?"
~"just keep knowing that your baby is out there"

I normally leave the conversation with a mixture of hope and depression. Hope that we really are in the process (sometimes I swear it feels like we are just still talking about it, not actively pursing it) and depressions because nothing has happened.

Today we actually got a bit (a very tiny bit so don't get excited) of good news. A birthmom had seen our profile online and requested more information (our printed profile) on us. It is something to feel positive about, but really not something to be hopeful about. After all, 1 in 10 birthmoms that they talk to actually make adoption plans. But, if she was to, she most likely only requested 1 or 2 profiles to look at. They have very little info on her, but they sent her the information requested and now just wait to see if she ever contacts them again.

Here is where the title comes in.

I'm so glad to hear (FINALLY) that someone is looking twice at us. Glad that someone watched our video, read what we had online and still liked us as potential parents. Encouraging.

BUT... Most likely this means nothing. Most likely she won't contact them again. Most likely this won't be a match.

BUT... It could. This could be it. But most likely it isn't.

Ahhhh. I think I could use some prayer.

1 year and counting

Two days ago marked a milestone for us. As the ticker on the side announced, "1 year waiting for our child to come home." To me, it seemed rather depressing, although Kevin (of course) took a more pragmatic approach.

A year seems like a long time. I wouldn't call it a lifetime, but a long time. Although I went into this knowing the statistics, knowing the wait time, I couldn't (and can't) help but think that I would be an exception. Couldn't you see it? "Couple adopts baby with the shortest wait time ever!" Yep, thinking like that gets me into trouble. I also couldn't help but think about the fact that a few years ago we decided (in January) to have another baby and welcomed her mid-October. I'm not used to waiting.

But let's put a little reality into this situation. I picked that date for the ticker because that is when we signed a contract with the agency and put some money down. Then the work began. The homestudy. The stupid fingerprints. The profiles. The stupid fingerprints again. In April our profiles were done and we started being presented, but only to a small group, ones with due dates far out since we weren't homestudy approved. In July we were finally homestudy approved and became "fully active" with the agency. Right before school started up again in January I had to make another batch of profiles because our first batch had all been used up -- a good sign that at least we are getting presented a lot. Along the way there have been a few changes made. The main one is our preference regarding gender. We started saying only boy, then opened it up to "unknowns" and then to girls too. I found that once I had a name (and a second name-just in case-for a twin girl since we are open to twins and I'm always over prepared) it ceased to matter. It also helped that I googled "African American girl hair care" which, I'll admit, scared me (I know it is something that is tricky and I would hate to fail as a mom with knowing how to care properly for hair).

So, we keep waiting. I wish I knew how long. Wish that when people asked how it was going I could say "oh, we've got some good leads!" But that isn't how this goes. Most likely we'll talk to just one birthmom, the one who chooses us. Most likely we'll hear nothing until a birthmom has chosen us as her top pick. Quite possibly we could have year where nothing happens.

Or, tomorrow we could get a call saying a birthmom chose us. The birthmom might be 5 months pregnant or 5 cm. dilated. That is how domestic adoption works. (So we've heard.)

The Grandparent bonus tracks

These are from the other night when Hannah did her song.

Hannah's Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr

Disclaimer--this was done entirely on her own, no prompting or suggestions from us.

When I grow up

Conversation overheard at breakfast---"daddy, do you know what I'm going to be when I grow up?"

"No Abby, what?"

"When I grow up I'm going to be a princess! And I'm going to wear tap shoes!"

Wondering what college major she'll need...

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Ice skating

We decided to attempt ice skating lessons this winter, mainly because the dance studio that used to come to our town no longer does. It is a bit if a challenge to do ice skating because the lessons are located an hour away. However, for 6 weeks we thought we'd try it. The jury is still out as to whether or not this is a good idea.... But here are some pictures from our first week.

Hannah was a big fan








Abby... Not so much






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New Year Reading List

I don't do resolutions. For a slacker like me, it is like asking for failure. I remind myself of the student who once they know they have sorta failed, figure why try and completely fail. So, no resolutions.

However, I do have a new year reading list. Books I should read, books I want to read, books that would benefit me to read.

The Green Magazine Guide to Personal Finance. This was a book Kevin read in college that really shaped how he views money, debt, credit cards, etc. I am the one in the family that skips along with no clue when it comes to money, but then occasional loses sleep over it. Maybe if I take more interest, and stop calling my plastic my "magic card", I'll worry less. Spend less would be a bonus.

Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches. This actually showed up in Kevin's stocking (yeah, I bought him something I wanted...). I'm hoping this is good.

The Bible. I know, I know! Duh. I'm not setting out to read it all (I'd never make it in a year, I've tried), but I have a small-ish goal. 10 minutes a few nights a week. Not asking for a miracle, just a bit. After all, I'm teaching a Sunday School class called "I know my bible" or something like that.

Parenting with Love and Logic. If I was more ambitious, I would tag on the Teaching with Love and Logic, but if I make it through this one, I'll be more then satisfied with myself (the one book so far that I need to buy).

Anne of Green Gables series. Seems rather silly to put this one down, after all, there were years of my life where I probably read at least one of these every month... if not all. Still, it seems like an old friend that I need to take the time to visit again since it has been years. (Speaking of friends, I did briefly contemplate making a resolution to call one distant friend a week. I didn't resolve to do it, but think I really ought to. Who wants to be on that list?)

I think I'll stop my list there. It is more then enough to keep me busy. Especially since thus far all I've read this year are 3 Narnia books (I'll finish the series before I move onto anything else), People Magazine and Time Magazine (I am always quick to point out the Time, makes me feel less shallow after the People).

Always catching up...

I just can't quite seem to stay caught up these days. Seems like I'm always running behind somehow. I'd blame the work schedule, or the girls or... but really, I think it is just me. So, sorry (again). In the near future I hope to post pictures/video from Hannah's school Christmas concert and also from the girls' ice skating lessons.

But, I feel like I left something hanging with the last post and needed to fill it in. As I said on our Christmas post there was an interesting aspect to our Christmas and, unfortunately, it is nothing good. I left it purposefully vague to not alarm.

My mother was here visiting us for a week of her vacation (lucky duck gets 3 weeks from her school schedule!). The girls were of course super excited to have Grammie around, and not just because she brought us a new ice cream maker that we used several times. On Christmas morning we got a call from my sister saying that my mom's house had been broken into and some very valuable, very family-important, items stolen. From what I last heard it was well over $15,000 in items stolen. My mom was of course completely shocked and I think the whole family is just stunned and horrified.

There were some blessings in all this. One, my sister, who was in town for the holidays, was staying with my brother instead of at my mom's house. Two, it always helps to have a Sheriff Sargent in the family, esp. when a crime is committed. Wasn't too hard for my brother to make sure the house got extra patrols and the case was thoroughly looked into (which, I guess the county averages 4 a day so that makes it hard to do). Three, some very special items were spared for some reason. The necklace my grandfather gave my grandmother for an anniversary (and that I wore in my wedding) was found, as was a beautiful diamond ring that my sister and I like to fight over. Four, although there was a lot taken and damage done, the house was (so I've heard since I'm so far away) okay, just messed up.

Not that this doesn't totally suck. My mom's sense of security has been shaken. Some irreplaceable items possibly lost forever. The last two weeks of vacation for her have not been a rest at all but a time of putting stuff in order and stress. You always think that things like this must happen only to other people and it is heartbreaking when they happen to your loved ones.