Pioneer Trek for Lyssie Lou is still several months away, but it's already begun for me. I've started making the Pioneer outfit and let me tell you that I am not a very good seamstress. I stitch and unstich, sew and re-sew but I have finally finished the Pioneer Bonnet (sp?). I'm giving myself a break for accomplishing this huge task. :)
Here is a very happy model and the Pioneer Bonnet....
So this kiddo of ours is quite interesting to talk to...we got talking and here is what SHE thinks:
1. What is something that (stepmom/Susie) always say to her...
A-That I love her.
2. What makes me (Susie) happy...
A-When somebody else does the dishes.
3. What makes me (Susie) sad...
A-When I tell a lie.
4. How do I (Susie) make her laugh...
A-When you do something funny with the dog.
5. What was I (Susie) like as a child...
A-A little mother.
6. How old am I (Susie)...
A-35?
7. How tall am I (Susie)...
A-5'6"?
8. What is my (Susie's) favorite thing to watch on t.v...
A-survivor?
9. What do I (Susie) do when A is not around...
A-cross-stich, sleep and make dinner.
10. If I (Susie) ever become famous, it will be for...
A-The best swimmer ever.
11. What am I (Susie) really good at...
A-Cross-stitching, swimming and piano
12. What am I (Susie) not very good at...
A-electronics.
13. What do I (Susie) do for my job...
A-Keeping the house in order
14. What is my (Susie's) favorite food...
A-Filet Minon.
15. What makes A proud of me (Susie)...
A-She's a good stay at home mom, plus she's nice, funny plus she makes me laugh all the time.
16. If I (Susie) were a cartoon character, who would I be...
A- Wilma Flintsone.
17. What do I (Susie) and A do together...
A-Play games, cook and shop.
18. How am I (Susie) and A the same...
A-The same Haircolor?
19. Where is my (Susie's) favorite place to go...
A-The Bahamas
I will tell you all that not all her answers are actually correct...but we sure had fun talking!!
*****UPDATE*****
I thought I would post how many she actually got correct and what the correct answers were:
1. Correct - I do tell her I love her.
2. Correct - I do luv when I don't have to do the dishes.
3. Correct, her not telling me the truth is one thing that makes me sad.
4. Correct I think. When I'm silly with her it makes her laugh.
5. Correct, I had a sick mother as a child so being the oldest I took care of my younger sisters.
6. Correct age...for now.
7. A little off. I think I'm probably 5'5"
8. Incorrect...survi*vor is not my favorite t.v. show. I'm a little documentary nerd.
9. Incorrect...I do not have the time to sleep or cross-stich all day. I do, however, make dinner.
10. Incorrect, while I do enjoy swimming I'll never be famous for it. Hahahaha funny though!
11. Correct, I am pretty good at piano and cross-stitching and also not bad at swimming.
12. Correct, I think it would be fair to say I'm not good with electronics, not bad either though.
13. Correct, A big part of my job is keeping the house in order.
14. Not really, while I luvs me a good Filet...I really don't have a favorite food.
15. Correct, I have to say that HER opinion is what counts on this one.
16. Correct, this is HER opinion as well. Although Wilma Flintsone?? Not so flattering. Thanks kid.
17. Correct, we do cook, play and shop.
18. Incorrect, we don't really have the same haircolor unless I dye mine.
19. Incorrect, my favorite place to go is not the Baha*mas...it's really anywhere with my family.
Well I've been going it alone for the past few days as the Dh is out of town. It amazes me how boring home is without conversation. So a whole lot of nothing has been going on. On another note, I love being able to call up one of my friends or sisters on the phone and jab away...or not. I'm very blessed to have people that care about me.
I've had a few people ask where the hubs and I will be off too. Obviously I don't want to give specifics, but we are off to warm, sunny Meh-Hee-Ko. Can't wait to burn my toes off in the sand and taste the salt water on my tongue. Don't get me wrong, where we live is beautiful with the mountains and desert and red rocks, but give me a beach and the ocean and I'll take it anyday.
What to do while we are there...not sure yet. There are so many things, ruins, zip lines, scuba, sightseeing. I think I just may sleep on the beach. Ahhhhhh.
Since I know that you all value my opinion so very much, here it is. Our family watched a movie last night. The movie was called The boy in the striped pajamas. I'm telling you all now that it was rated PG-13 for the inferences of what actually took place in a "Auschwitz" type concentration camp. Right now in our world , there are people saying the Holocaust was made up, not really true and that it didn't happen. We didn't want Lyssie thinking that was the truth. We all know basically what horrible tragedy's happened in those camps and for the sake of a teaching and parenting moment we allowed Lyssie Lou to watch. This subject matter is not easy to introduce, let alone discuss with kids because it was so horrible and hard to believe that man would have these inhumane feelings for another. Lyssie didn't even know how to pronounce Nazi. She said it like Naw-zee, not Not-zee.
After the movie was over we had a very emotional, but good discussion with her. She told us how she wished it had never happened, wondered why it did happen and why so many people were cheated out of their lives. I'm not saying that this movie is for everyone and it is defintely thematic, but if you want to introduce this subject matter in a less graphic way than Schi*ndler's List, I think this is a good option.
We also used this material to discuss our beliefs within our religion about why we love everyone, every single color, creed and religion. We all are children of Heavenly Father and it is so important to teach love, tolerance and practice good will especially in our world today.
My Hubs and I have been talking for a while now (I know so incredible...) :), about possibly giving ourselves a very much needed break. We've been chugging through this China adoption process for a very long time now. I know it is hard for all of us, but when Lyssie Lou isn't here, it's hard for me to keep my mind off when Emma is going to come, how much longer etc., etc.
We've not only been dealing with that stress, but our family has recently undergone a big big change. We have been involved with a custody situation with Lyssie Lou and everything is pretty much settled down just recently. We've had a few health problems arise...and this economy is really a downer.
We haven't had much time spent together and last year on our 5 year anniversary we were not able to do anything or go anywhere because of many different things going on. Well, we finally decided that we need a break. Badly. We figured that we pay into our budget for vacations so we are darn well going to use that budget to go somewhere relaxing.
Looks like the Hubs and I will be going someplace warm and relaxing in the very near future. Yay...Yay...Yay...Yay...Yay...Yay...Yay...I'm just a little excited.
Avery
Ace a.k.a Buster
So Yesterday was a very busy day for me. My sis Karen called and asked if I wanted to go with her and her 3 kids to the Living Aquarium for a few hours yesterday. I said sure and off we went. It was a pretty cool place for being kinda small. We saw poisonus frogs, jelly fish, star fish, coral...Nemo...(clown fish), a lobster, alligator, a Anaconda (snake), white tipped reef shark (very small) and Manta Rays. The hit was definitely the Manta Rays all the kids, even Avery wanted to touch them. Dylan had no fear and touched them easily. Haley really wanted to touch them but was really scared. I helped her and slowly but surely she was able to feel the smooth Ray a few times. After touching them, we all smelled fishy and yucky. By the time that was over Avery was done and wanted food and bed. We all stopped for some Chicky Nuggies and everyone was happy.
After picking Lyssie Lou up at school we came home and I began to make Shepherd's Pie. Well when Lyssie was young her Uncle Steve didn't like Shepherd's pie and he called it "Pioneer Poo*p". Guess who picked up on that so much so that we don't even call it Shepherd's Pie any more.
When dinner was over, we had Family Home Evening, FHE, or Family Homely as we call it. It was a good lesson and Lyssie Lou actually paid pretty close attention which is something to smile about when they are at these ages. We had a Family Homely game and all was well.
That's the story of yesterday!!!
I was told since the beginning of our paperchase to not put much stock into RQ, and to just know that our child was coming. Well, RQ recently posted the projections and other not fun stuff and I just don't know how to feel about all of this. Right now we have been waiting for Emma for 2 years and 7 months to be precise. Referrals now are at a 36 month wait. Things have slowed down in China adoption referrals and nobody really knows why. I don't think I complain very much, but I just can't wrap my head around the fact that people who were logged in earlier (say March of 2006) are getting their referrals now at 36 months and that my LID in August of 2006 would be 41 months later????
Okay check me if I'm wrong but 36 months referrals are happening now in 03/09. RQ predicts that if the CCAA does what it has been for the last 3 months (which is approximately 3 day batches per month); that I will receive my referral in 09/2013!! Which is by my math 41 more months. Am I insane??? That will increase my wait of 12-18 months (which was the estimate in the beginning) to 72 months....or in other words....6 YEARS!!
I honestly know that Emma is in China, or will be in 3 more years...but I can't help but feeling disappointed, feeling a little stupid, sad and perhaps a bit misguided. I shouldn't have put all my eggs (not literally...snort) in China's basket. I will be into my 40's before I should see Emma and while I know that lots of you are older and adopting, it just wasn't my plan. I guess I can always adjust to thinking about becoming a parent at an older age, I was just hoping that Scott and I could blend the family (Lyssa Lou and whomever came into our home) into one semi-close in ages family. I guess it just wasn't meant to be this way, and while I still hope that things will speed up, I'm just not so sure they will. If by some miracle the CCAA matches on average of 10 days per month I just might get my referral around July 2010. I guess I will hope and pray for that!
First, I want to Thank all of you for the nice comments you had about my new hair. To answer a question...it is so easy to do! I am absolutely delighted that I can dry it, put some molding mud in and go. On another note the hubs loves it and that's whose opinion counts the most in my book.
Second, it's time again for another mom posts. For those of you who follow my blog you kind of know the history of these posts, so here it goes.
Before my beloved Mother passed away, she resided in a nursing care facility. It was an awesome place and she grew to love it and the people who worked there. I was visiting her one day on my lunch break. By this time she was no longer able to walk, sit very well or feed herself at all. I sat with her as she lay on a long chair that kind of lounged backward as she waited for her nurse to come feed her lunch. She was always the last to eat because she needed help and had to wait for the nurses to make sure everyone else had eaten. I guess I could have fed her, but at that moment the thought didn't come to my mind.
In the background on the radio, BYU (Brigham Young University) was broadcasting a devotional. Some hymns were being played. Then came the next song...it was the song "I stand all amazed." I watched as my 46 year old Mom mouthed every word to that song. Here she was, her precious physical body ravished by Multiple Sclerosis taking her life slowly away from her. She should have been furious with God, at the many things she had lost, at the pain and suffering she had experienced and was experiencing at that time. She was NOT angry,
she was NOT blaming God. She was praising Him, thanking Him, humbling herself before Him.
As she sat in that chair losing her life, she CONFIRMED to me her faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She bore her testimony to me in a way that has left an indelible mark on my spirit. She is the best example in my life next to my Savior.
Following are the words to this song located in the LDS Hymnal...
