Adoption process update-Adoption Journal

Adoption update!

We received our I-600A Clearance approval in the mail on Friday-yippee!! In plain English, this means that Homeland Security has found us 'fit' to adopt an orphan from another country, specifically South Korea. So we are one step closer! We are right in the middle of our 10 hour adoption training. Basically, it's South Korea's move, kids..
Interestingly, I have been decorating for Christmas this past weekend and I've noticed a mental shift with myself. For instance, putting up our stockings, I found myself making a mental note that we need to get 'one more'..decorating our tree, I thought, 'hey- we need an adoption ornament on here!' (I have ornaments commemorating EVERYTHING)..we decorated two gingerbread houses this weekend, one for each child and I thought to myself, 'next year we'll have 3 houses!'.....JUST GENERAL STUFF LIKE THAT. I'm already starting to prepare room for our number #3!
So hooray, hoor-ah, we're moving along and that is a very nice start to my week. Hope yours is off to a nice start, too!

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!
(check out my bird..I'm a lil' tad bit proud of it BECAUSE it's my first one I've ever cooked..)



I hope your day was blessed! -sm

Day 13 and 14 and 15 for that matter

This little virus has really taken me out..I thought I was getting better only to relapse on Thursday afternoon. Still hanging in there though. I've been making a mental list of what I'm thankful for each day even though I haven't checked in for the past 3 days.
Here they are:
Day 13- I was thankful for great parents in my kids' classroom. I'm a room mom to BOTH of my kids' classes. Now before you say wow or anything..basically that makes me a little insane in the brain to do that!! It's fun though and I enjoy it. Lately, in my daughter's class we've had alot going on- lots of behind the scenes organizing and I'm really thankful that the parents at my kids' school are so willing to pitch in and help with what needs to be done. It makes a difference!! I'm also thankful for the lovely ladies who are co-room moms with me in both classes. All are go getters with servant hearts. I've enjoyed getting to know them all.
Day 14- I was thankful for the opportunity to be a little creative yesterday. I'm already working on our Christmas decorating and I'm doing a couple of new projects for this year. We are hosting a couple of parties at our home this season so I get a little crazy with the decorating! I love Christmas and I was very thankful that my dear husband recognized that I was 'in the mode' yesterday and let me craft away the afternoon. Good for my soul!
Today Day 15- I am thankful for my church. It is far from perfect. Some things I really love about it. Some things I wonder about. Doesn't matter though- I read an article the other day about someone in another part of the world who was sneaking around just to attend a worship service in the basement of a building with a dirt floor. We don't have to do that here. And no matter how big or small your church is, how often you meet budget or not, how awesome worship is or how many glitches happen in the programming, we still worship the same God whose presence comes and joins us each Sunday. I love how Sundays feel after I've worshipped God in the morning. THANKFUL!!
I suppose in spite of being so sick, I have found myself feeling...well, happy. Is my life perfect? nope. are there things going on that are hard and make me sad? yep. But in spite of that stuff, it's true. I'm happy.
What about you? What are you thankful for today? Find something and give thanks!!

Attitude of Gratitude- Day 12

I must say that I have been blessed with some good girlfriends. I was thinking about them and how they've added so much to my life over the years-we've been on many, many adventures!! (Probably some that should not be spoken, much less written, about!!)
I have a girlfriend who is a teacher, many who are mommies, a couple who are not (and want it to stay that way), one who is an actress in LA, one who is an impeccable dresser, one who is a singer, one who knows exactly the right advice to give, one who is an author, one who is an executive, one who has had so many careers that I've lost count, one who is extremely organized, one who couldn't find her head if it weren't attached to her body, one who is a nurse, a couple who fly the friendly skies, one who is a little neurotic but I love her anyway, one who is wickedly funny, one who talks alot, one who is struggling right now, one who'd I like to know better, one who is my partner in crime, one who is my confidant, one who is endlessly optimistic, one who loans me books, one who has known me for almost 30 years, a couple who have known me for 20, one who is now travelling more than I ever did, one who believes completely in my dreams and encourages me to try, one who gets exactly where I'm coming from, one who is a domestic goddess, several who are not, one who is very shy and one who is extremely athletic and daring.

(I'll bet if any of them are reading this, they're trying to figure out who's who up there!!)
But actually, alot of those descriptions fit several of them.
They are all beautiful women to me, inside and out! Some I am extremely close to, some I used to be close to, some I miss. But I still include them all in my circle of friends. They've laughed with me through the fun and happy times, cried with me through the tough ones and simply all together enrich my life daily. They are part of the fabric of my life! So on Day 12, I am thankful for all the girlfriends that God has placed in my life- presently and in the past.

I hope God has given you a special friend..you are blessed if you have one!

Attitude of Gratitude- Day 11

I don't want my words to get in the way of what I'm thankful for today. Because quite frankly, they will fall short. I am so thankful for all the brave men and women of our country who have served and do serve in our country's military. What you do and have done has enabled me to do what I do everyday. You are very appreciated by our family and your sacrifice to us all is huge. I have several veterans in my extended family (one of whom is no longer with us)..you have all blessed my life. Thank you and God bless our veterans!

Attitude of Gratitude- Day 10

I have these two critters that hang around my house..you've read about them: Seoul-Roy and Seoul-Rat.

Seoul-Roy is old and is quite attached to me. We bonded in a PetSmart parking lot about 11 years ago and have had quite a friendship ever since then. He had a tumultuous first two years with us and then mellowed out. His favorite past time is lounging and he's really good at it. Seoul-Rat was also found in a parking lot- a mall lot- after almost getting run over by the car in front of me. She was only 6 weeks old, too young to be away from her mother. That lucky duck found a home with us, too although she's been a little more feisty and challenging. Still, we love her and she definitely has put a little spring in Seoul-Roy's steps.

We're dog people. I heard an expression once- never trust anyone who doesn't love a dog. I like that. (although, yes, I know some of you DON'T like animals at all..you really should give a dog a try..) We especially like spotted dogs and that's why these two fit in so well with us. They're pretty loyal and being sick, like I have been, it's pretty great to snuggle up with the both of them. I think they innately know when one of their 'peeps' isn't 100%. They are extra sweet and cuddly.

So today on Day 10, I'm thankful for my dogs. They've cost me a ga-jillion dollars over the years, make me vacuum almost daily, and try to sneak up on the bed when I'm not around but I think we'll keep them. After all, loyal friends are worth keeping around..

Attitude of Gratitude- Day 8 & 9

I'm slacking a bit but I have a good reason. Seoul-family is sick. We woke up yesterday at 4am, caught a 7 am flight and then had to rush up to the northern end of our state for a Christmas ballet performance. Seoul-girl was dancing in her ballet school's Nutcracker performance. So somewhere in the middle of all of that, Seoul-girl said she didn't feel well. And then I didn't feel well. And then it was Seoul-daddy's turn and so on. Yuck. But yesterday in spite of all the rushing around and sickness, I got to see my sister, who came to see the show. SO yesterday, I was thankful for sisters! (sorry Seoul-sister for the less than animated conversation..next time)

TODAY on Day 9, I'm just thankful for my warm comfy bed. Because even though I feel like a truck has run over me, there is nothing better than to curl up in your own covers on your own mattress in your own house. Trips are fun but home is always the sweetest. Enjoy your day everyone and hopefully this Seoul-mama will be feeling better tomorrow!