The GoogleEarth Prayer

As part of our prepartion for the arrival of the Baby Zeke, we pray every day and night about our little guy. Brad likes to pray using GoogleEarth. Picture us here in the U.S. doing our thing imagining our baby.. then zoom all the way out from our town to the county to the state to the U.S. then pan the view all the way to the west across the Pacific.. zooming in on Asia.. then Vietnam.. then the province.. and the village and the orphange into the room where he lies waiting for us. You see his caretaker and pray for her. You hope his needs are being met -- his butt wiped, his appetite fed, his thirst quenched. Then you hope God is looking after him.
Amen.

(Posted by Brad)

Ready to head north

Looks like we'll have good weather for our trip to Chicago! There's a chance for some snow over the weekend...how lovely would that be? We leave Thursday and will come back next Tuesday. We're having to play "musical hotels" a bit at the end of the trip but that's ok. We're just glad to get to go! The conference begins Sunday night with a reception and then continues all day Monday. So, until Sunday night, we'll have time to enjoy the city. We have tickets to Second City for Friday night. We used to have a friend who worked in the box office and got us amazing seats (we were practically on stage!) but he's no longer there. We're seeing the e.t.c. show which plays in a smaller venue so there aren't any bad seats in the house.

I'm making plans to call our case worker Dec 5, when we're back in town to get a status check and find out when we might be matched with a baby. She won't be able to give us a precise date but she can tell us if we're really close. Quite exciting, huh?

Greg and Laura-Glad you loved Lars and the Real Girl...I can't wait to see it again!!

Movie Reviews

Recent movies we've seen at the theatre and on DVD (in no particular order):

1. Lars and the Real Girl...One of the best movies I've seen all year. The premise makes it seem like it's going to be a comedy but it's actually quite a poignant film. It shows how people can set aside their small-mindedness and open their hearts to someone who is different and how doing that can ultimately bring healing. I cried. How refreshing to see a movie about how we can be good to each other. Watch the trailer by clicking here. I think it will pique your interest.

2. The Mist...The latest screen adaptation of a Stephen King story by the excellent Mr. Frank Darabont (he also directed The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile). It's creepy and fun but be warned that the ending is terrible (It left me asking Delmar's immortal question: "Where's the happy little tire swing?"). The ending aside, it's a fun ride into the mist. Fog never looked so creepy.

3. Lucky Number Slevin...Just got this one on DVD from the library. There are some fun twists but we found it to be somewhat predictable. Still, we enjoyed it. Ever since Moonlighting, I can't help but like that Bruce Willis.

4. Shrek the Third...Mildly amusing. Love the Puss in Boots character and his kitty eyes trick. Our kitties pull the same thing on us.

5. Someone to Eat Cheese With...Mildly amusing. Kind of funny. It's a rental.

6. King of California...A slow indie pic starring Michael Douglas as someone who's had a little too much spacecake for breakfast. Interesting but not great.

7. King of Kong...GREATEST DOCUMENTARY EVER! If you get a chance to see this, it's definitely worth the price of admission! It's a doc on the battle for the highest score on Donkey Kong. It has lots of heart, loads of nerds, and a strong story. We can't wait for this to come out on DVD so we can buy it!

8. American Gangster...Violent, violent, violent. Would not see this one again. Brad liked it. I didn't. I will give Denzel and Russell props for some great acting. What made it so hard to watch is that it was based on real people and real happenings. Seeing people behave that way toward each other...well, we can just be animals, plain and simple. If you want a good movie about gangsters, check out The Departed. It's a well-crafted story, strong characters, and not a weak actor in the bunch (props to Mark Wahlberg!).

9. Something's Got to Give...Ok, it's been a while since we've seen this one. But we were talking this weekend about how it's a pleasant flick that stands up to repeat viewings. We caught it on TV last winter and enjoyed it very much (it was our second viewing). Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson are enjoyable...Keanu Reeves is the icing on the cake...speaking of Keanu...

10. The Lake House...Wanted to put a plug in for this romantic flick. We own it on DVD. You won't mind suspending your disbelief for these two people who love each other across time. It's a rent-n-cuddle.

11. Scoop...Woody Allen at his Woody Allenest. It's awful. You're actually glad when he runs himself off the road at the end. And people got onto M. Night Shyamalan for casting himself in Lady in the Water...sheesh...Not even the winning Hugh Jackman can redeem this festering film.

12. The Holiday...If you're in the mood for love this Christmas, this is the film for you. When we were leaving the theatre last Christmas after seeing this, I turned to my mom and said, "Weren't those the most beautiful people you've ever seen?" You've got Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. It's funny, sweet and romantic. You'll enjoy.

What movies have you seen lately?

Touche

Holiday fun! (even without Jingle Bells).

Happy Thanksgiving! (Enjoy the yule log)

Fear the Bug

This is my nightmare.

Best. Movie. Trailer. Ever.

Click here and enjoy.

Moo, the Fashionista

For those who can't get enough of the cuteness that is Moo, check out her photo gallery by clicking on this lovely photo of Moo and Court (Wendy's roomie in Thailand):

Thanksgiving Plans

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Are you going somewhere? Will you be with family? Friends?

We are hosting a Chinese couple (Wenping and Lisa), their teenage son and Lisa's parents at our house on Thursday. We are very much looking forward to having company, especially since Lisa's parents have probably never been to a Thanksgiving dinner (they'll be visiting from China). I think Brad is planning to run in the Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. My knee won't allow me to participate (argh!). So, our day will be filled with good food and good friends. We're looking forward to it! Of course, we miss our families but we'll be seeing them before too long for Christmas. I hope your Thanksgiving is absolutely lovely!

Snow?

Yes, there's a slight chance of snow in the area Wednesday night. As long as we don't get buried under ice and lots of snow, I'm ok with that. I really like seeing snow flurries!

It's a three day week for me at work. I'm really excited about that. Brad did get accepted to the conference so we're both heading to Chicago next week (which also makes that a three day work week). We're going a few days before the conference starts so we can enjoy being in Chicago. What a treat!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend!!

Fish out of water

Since my doc has told me to lay off heavy exercise for a while so my knee can heal, I've taken up swimming. So, I went to a local sports shop and bought some gear. When I got in the pool this week, it was the first time I had been swimming in a long, long time. Let me tell you that running a half marathon is one thing...swimming 40 links is another! Swimming is HARD! It will take me some time to build up my endurance but I'm glad I still have this workout option even with my bum knee.

No big plans for the weekend. I found out yesterday that I've been invited to Chicago the first weekend in December for a journalism conference. Sweet!! I'm planning to go. Brad might be able to come too. We'll see. It's so funny because a couple of weekends ago, we'd been talking about how much we'd LOVE to visit Chicagoland so we could eat at our favorite restaurant, shop the Magnificent Mile and catch a show at Second City.

I hope all of you have a great Friday and doing something fun and exciting this weekend!

Adoption Article

I've only had a chance to skim through this but it looks interesting:
Click here.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed a Bible verse for Zeke. It's not too late to add yours!!

All gussied up!

Is that how you spell gussied? I reckon so!

Brad and Missy at a recent fundraiser where we helped check in the guests who bought the high dollar tickets.

Peanut Butter in the Fridge?!?!

At the urging of a recent issue of Prevention magazine, I purchased some "natural" peanut butter. Supposedly, it's rich in good fat and protein and lacking in the nasty hydrogenated fats. If you look at the jars of natural PB in the store, you'll see that oil collects at the top of the jar. So, I got it home and was reading on the jar...It says it's normal for oil to collect on the top. It says to stir it up and then put it in the refrigerator. Huh?!?! Well, I did and it tastes good. It's definitely missing a certain "je ne sais quoi"...Actually, I know exactly what it's missing: tons o' sugar. It's still good though.

Brad has taken issue with my proclamation that we could get matched with our child "any day now." While it's true that we are inside the window when we would expect to get the call and it could come any day now, it also might not happen until well into December (hey, December 1 is only 2 weeks and 2 days away). So, I just wanted to make sure that you guys understand where we are in the wait. We won't be shocked if the call doesn't come until December. We want you guys to understand that we'll just have to wait and see...this is fun, isn't it?!?!

A Fun Project to Show Zeke Some Love!!

Our church is doing a fun project for the children. They're asking families to write down their favorite Bible verses and a brief explanation of why it's their favorite. They're going to compile all the verses and explanations in a book for the kids. Great idea, huh?!?!

I thought it would be fun and meaningful to ask you guys to submit your favorite verse and an explanation for Zeke. You can post it here under the comments section OR you can email it to me at zekeandlilysmom@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you!!

Rainy Days and Mondays...

If they always get you down, then today is a double punch!! It's Monday and it's rainy. Yuck!

We have officially crossed the 30 day mark with our dossier being logged in for Vietnam. It's very exciting!!

Continue to pray for our baby (wherever he is!) and for the people who will be matching us with our baby.

Katie Baby!!

My bestest friend since kindergarten, Katie is ready to have her baby girl at any moment. It's so exciting!! So, c'mon baby, we're all ready for your big debut!! Katie, I love you and am praying for you, Justin and the baby as this new adventure begins!! Can't wait for that phone call!!! Check out Katie's blog under our links section.

Yesterday, our church nursery had an open house. It was great to visit the facilities and meet the workers. For all the years we've been going to our church, we had NEVER set foot in the nursery. We never really had a reason to visit. I had to chuckle because Brad and I were grilling the workers a little..."What's the child to worker ratio?" "Do you check the toys when there's a recall?" "Do you conduct background checks on the workers and volunteers?" Everyone was so nice and kindly answered all our questions. The best part, however was getting to hold Baby Emma (thanks, Mandy)!!! She's absolute perfection. You can read about Baby Emma, her mom, Mandy and her dad, Kevin on their blog. It's also under the links section.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. We saw "Someone to Eat Cheese With" Friday night and "American Gangster" last night. I really wouldn't recommend either of them. If you like gangster movies, "The Departed" is infinitely better because the story is so much more interesting. "Someone...Cheese With" was cute and light but probably a rental. Still, we enjoy visiting our local arthouse cinema so we had a good time watching it.

TGIF!

FRIDAY ROCKS! I've got lots to do today so the afternoon should pass quickly. So, what's on tap for the weekend? We're thinking a trip to the movies is in order. Brad is eager to see American Gangster. It's gotten rave reviews and there's a lot of Oscar buzz.

I've got a fun gig. I've been asked to judge a short film competition by our local independent theatre. I'm so honored! I'd love to be a film critic and I guess this is the closest I can get for now. I'll let you know how if the shorts are any good!

Have a super weekend!!

Life Book

Yesterday, I went out and bought the binder that will become Zeke's life book. What is a life book, you ask? Here's some info from adoptionlifebooks.com:

"An Adoption Life Book is a record of a foster/adoptee’s life that uses words, photos, graphics, the child’s artwork, and memorabilia. An Adoption Life Book includes information about the child’s birth parents and reason for leaving them. It always starts at the child’s birth. Plus the fun part of when the adopted child first joined the family. An Adoption Life Book is more than a life story. It is a unique opportunity for parents to honor every minute of their children’s lives."

So, while we wait to see his sweet face for the first time, we're going to work on some "waiting for you" pages to show what we're doing to get ready for his arrival. When I get them done, I'll snap some pics and post them!

Sonic Boom!

I camped out for about half an hour on the roof of a parking garage today, waiting to hear and see the space shuttle as it re-entered earth's atmosphere. I heard and felt a sonic boom and its echo a few minutes before noon. Very cool!! Of course, I had my recorder with me and we're going to use the sound on our newscast this afternoon. I never did see the shuttle...just lots of airplanes. It was a beautiful blue sky, no clouds but it was quite cold.

Well, I keep saying that we could get Zeke's photo any day now and that's true. But I'm also trying to remind myself that we may not get a baby matched to us until December. I know that when it happens, it will be the child who is meant to be ours so that's why I'm not getting all worked up about the wait (plus, this is a cake walk compared to the wait for Lily). For anyone who's keeping track, it's been 26 days since our dossier was logged in by Vietnam. Zeke has surely been born and we just pray that he's doing well, wherever he is!!

Kitty on my lap!

I've said it before but let me say it again...I'm so glad I have two kitties to fill my arms. My lap is seldom empty. Even as I type, Little Buddy is perched on my lap, watching my fingers. He reaches up every now and then to "kiss" my chin.

We had a busy weekend. Friday night, there was the fundraiser for public TV and a visit to the photo exhibit on adoptive families. Saturday was aerobics (for Brad), adoption fair, visiting with journalism students from our alma mater, then my guest spot on a monthly late night show at the local improv club. Sunday was church, then volunteering at another public TV fundraiser. We wrapped the day up with the youth at church. Whew! I had to go to work today just to catch my breath!

Here's to a busy week with lots of distractions (for the record, it's been 24 days as of today since our LID!)...

Worth more than words...

Late Friday night, Brad and I went to a local art gallery that featured an exhibit of black and white photos of local families who have adopted. There were domestic and international adoptive families. There were stories accompanying each photo. Almost every single story included a word of praise to God for uniting these parents and children. What a moving display of love and a wonderful illustration of the purpose we each have here on earth. Brad said he was glad we left when we did because he was getting choked up. The words were wonderful but the photos said it all...

What Kind of Father will Brad be?

Three weeks today!

Three weeks ago today, we became a part of the "pool" of prospective parents who are ready to receive their child for consideration. I spoke with our case worker today and she says to just plan on a 60 day wait from October 12 just to be safe. I'm still hopeful it will be sooner than that. We'll see!!

A favorite quotation...

"They say they built the train tracks over the Alps before there was a train that could make the trip. They built it anyway. They knew one day the train would come. Any arbitrary turning along the way, and I would be elsewhere. I would be different. What are four walls, anyway? They are what they contain. The house protects the dreamer. Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game. It's such a surprise."

Can you name the movie? (...without googling part of the quotation?)

Baby, it's cold outside!

Wow! What happened to the weather? It's suddenly very, very cold outside. I guess that means it really is November 1. It's hard to believe it's November already. We'll be looking at Zeke's smiling face before you know it!