I know a name a glorious name...

So this will probably be a short post...but hey it's summer who's got time to sit around and blog with all the stuff going on?

The hubs and I have been racking our brains since we started the adoption process to come up with a name we love for our little one. Most of you know her first name...Emma. We actually had a hard time coming up with names that we both agreed on. We decided on Emma a long time ago and since then, the name has become wildly popular. We still love it anyway so she will still get this name. In addition to this name we have been trying to come up with the rest of her name. While we thought for a while that we would like to incorporate part of her Chinese name into the name we give her...I'm just not sure yet.

We have, however, come up with a lovely middle name that will be part of her name, but for that you all have to wait.

I will give a hint though....she will be Emma J.

Families can be together forever....

The newest Utah LDS Temple called the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

As beautiful inside as it is out.

We are blessed.

Little Miss Sunshine....

Finally...what you have all been waiting for (right? not...snort). Lyssa Lou is finally outfitted for the PIONEER TREK. I don't think I could knock that silly grin off her face if I tried. That's what it's all about right? I see all the mistakes and ugly sewing...SHE sees a masterpiece. Just seeing that smile on her face makes it ALL worth it. Some pics of the modeling...

The truth of it all...

The truth is that I adore my mister. My mister is such a perfect match for me and we were made for each other. We are Yin and Yang, peas and carrots, socks and shoes, apple pie and ice cream and all the other cliche's. We Just Are.

Before my mister I was happy, now I am peaceful and content. I live for him and he lives for me. I am thankful and grateful he will be the father of my daughter and future children.

My mister is such an excellent father to his daughter and I can not think of anyone better to father our children.

I love my mister.

Children need a Daddy

For many, many things:

Like holding them high off the ground

Where the sunlight sings!
Like being the deep music

That tells them all is right

When they awaken frantic with

The terrors of the night.
Like being the great mountain

That rises in their hearts

And shows them how they might get home

When all else falls apart.
Like giving them the love

That is their sea and air,

So diving deep or soaring high

They'll always find him there.

My sweet sweet love affair...

I have a problem...that I am fully willing to admit. Here is the break down. I used to be a very light sleeper. I had the bedroom directly underneath my mother's. As her illness progressed, I slowly began to sleep lighter and lighter as I listened for any distress calls coming from the room above. It just happened. My body adapted to hear these things much like a mother hears her baby cry.

Over the past few years my body has slowly gone back to normal. In fact...when I sleep now I sleep quite heavily. I was reminded today by my dear sweet husband, of the "sleep talking" I did with him last night. Since I used to be a very light sleeper I never, ever make sounds myself. I do not snore, wheeze, chuffle, breathe loudly or make any noise of any sort. If I did, it would wake me up. Apparently last night my husband (who sometimes snores) was doing so. I got upset and asked him to stop. I guess he didn't. I'm sure I asked him very nicely again to roll over or something and then the dog made me mad. In this dream state I apparently ended up kicking my beloved and the dog off the bed and out the door.

This morning when I talked with him, he told me the details of my scolding. I don't remember a thing. Not one thing. I hope my man and the dog can learn to love this "other part" of me, and maybe someday these "sweet scoldings" will turn into "sweet nothings" instead.

Love ya Hon.

Renewel Time!

Yes, it's that time of the year again. Just sent all the updates to the agency and will shortly be making an appointment with the lovely officers at the immigration office. I just love this time of year. It brings such joy to my life. Alas, it is necessary and will be done in a heartbeat as it is just one of the stepping stones on the path that leads to my daughter.

Thank you USCIS!!!

Another missed LID!

Wow...another LID completely missed. I don't know how this happens as I feel each day beginning and ending in this wait for our daughter. Our 34 month LID anniversary was on the 11th. I really and truly cannot believe we have waited this long.

I don't know if the wait feels harder now or back in the beginning. People I know are now receiving their referrals and that is very exciting to see happen. I keep thinking it won't be long now...but the CC*A hasn't referred for a whopping 69 days. Just hearing that makes me feel bummed. I was thinking we might go next year, but I'm just not so sure now.

Things that are keeping me busy right now are vacations, family get-togethers and Lyssa-Lou and her ever complicated rotating and spinning schedule. She will be attending Girls camp in about 3 weeks and them Pioneer Trek two weeks after that. I can't believe how busy kids are today with all their activities. When I was a kid we had to find stuff to entertain us.

Here's to hoping that referrals start speeding up and that someday hopefully soon all those waiting mommies including me will see our sweet babies faces.

Life is Beautiful...and precious.

Sometimes I have days full of activities, events and chaos. Sometimes I have quiet, contemplative days. This has been one of those days. Life is beautiful...the leaves swaying in the wind, children's laughter and beautiful music. I know I am here for a reason. I am here to be influenced and maybe just maybe to influence someone else. How generous is God to give us beauty in the form of blue sky's, birds chirping, family and so many other precious things.

As I ponder events in my life, I feel that I might be extra blessed. I have learned many things from life lessons. Since my life saving surgery, I treasure much. I remember my family all being tested to see who might be a kidney donor for me. I was sick...and tired...and I just wanted relief. I didn't think about what my donor might be feeling or experiencing. Finally amongst themselves my sister emerged saying she would help. I had worked in the medical field for some time by this point and understood the tests and preparation she would be going through. She, I later came to find out, did not.

Now as I think back to her unwavering commitment to help me, she went through a number of diagnostic tests to determine if she could be a donor. She was barely the legal age to donate. I did my best to accompany her for all these tests. She was to have an angiogram on her kidneys. As I rode in the elevator beside her up to the angiography suite the teenage transporter asked why she was having the test. She said "I'm donating a kidney," but did not indicate it was for me who was standing right beside her. The transporter then responded "Wow are you crazy? Have you seen the scars those leave?" My sister just looked at me and smiled. After the surgery, her room was dark and she was in much pain. They removed two of her ribs to get her kidney. I've often heard that the donor feels pulverized afterwards. I felt immensely better leaving the recovery room.

Life is beautiful, now much more so. I want my sister to know that I feel these moments completely. I hope this brings happiness to her, and I hope she understands and feels these moments as well.

Pictures coming!

Those of you who follow this blog might remember the post of Lyssa Lou's bonnett that I sewed for Pioneer Trek. Well, two dresses and an almost finished apron are now done and I will post the lovely pictures of the masterpiece when my camera returns home to me. Yay!!!!

Also, in honor of Iron and Wine and the joy they bring me I have posted a new song. Yay!!!!