We are better but still not great

We're recovering today from the WORST case of food poisoning ever. Ugg! I managed to get down some chicken soup today. I actually feel better and Brad's doing better too. It's just exhausting to be sick like this. I was chilled yesterday evening when we got home from KC and crawled into bed. Little Buddy got under the covers with me and curled up next to me. He was better than any hot water bottle in helping me warm up!

For the record, I do not think our baby looks like any old movie star. Though I can see a little bit of resemblance in the cheeks...maybe. But our baby is SOOOO cute! I can't believe how cute he is! We don't deserve to have such cuteness in our lives!!

Kudos to Karen and Misty for knowing the song I sang recently to Zeke is from Aspects of Love! Great song.

Hope all of you are doing well. We did have a good weekend, pre-illness. We got in some good shopping and saw a fun little flick: Run, Fatboy, Run. More of a rental than a see-in-the-theatre kind of movie but we enjoyed it.

We are in a BAD way

We're back from Kansas City.. but now in our 17th hour of fighting off some food poisoning from what we believe the Mexican we had for dinner last night.

We'll more updates on this developing story as they become available.

BTW, I think our baby resembles Edward G. Robinson.

Singing to Zeke

I sing to Zeke. Here's what I was singing this week:

Love,
Love changes everything:
Hands and faces,
Earth and sky,
Love,
Love changes everything:
How you live and
How you die

Love,
Love changes everything:
Days are longer,
Words mean more.
Love,
Love changes everything:
Pain is deeper
Than before.


Love
Will turn your world around,
And that world
Will last for ever.


Off, into the world we go,
Planning futures,
Shaping years.
Love,
Bursts in, and suddenly
All our wisdom
Disappears.


Love
Makes fools of everyone:
All the rules
We make are broken.


Yes, Love,
Love changes everyone.
Live or perish
In its flame.
Love will never,
Never let you
Be the same.

Ten points to anyone who can name the musical from which this song comes!

Heading to KC

If I can get through this day (it's been a wild one!), then we'll be heading to KC tomorrow to re-file some federal paperwork. This ensures our paperwork won't be close to expiring when we travel later this year. Think of this as a necessary step but not the next big one we've been waiting for...

This week has been a busy one at work. It's fine though because it helps the time go by faster. When I get back from our Vegas trip on April 14, we'll be more than halfway through our wait to take the next big step (filing the big round of federal paperwork). We're ticking off the weeks, no? Supposedly, after we file the federal paperwork, we will hear within 60 working days that we're approved to travel. Then we go get him! Many families, but not all are finding the wait for approval is much longer than they expected so this is a major focus of my prayer...that our case will move forward and that those who are waiting now will get approval SOON! Heck, I'm even praying that the hearts of the officials who will give us our approval are being prepared even now to say YES to our application and to do so QUICKLY!

Priceless, aka Hors de Prix

The French movie I referenced yesterday is called Hors de Prix in France. It stars Audrey Tautou and it looks like it came out in 2007 in France. Benedicte, did you see this one? I guess it's just now opening stateside.

So, is it awful that I already reserved a room in Paris for this summer? I'm hopeful that 1) I get selected for the German program and 2) Brad decides to meet me at the end of the program for a stay in Paris. Of course, I can cancel the reservation without penalty if need to but I really hope it all pans out!

Looking Ahead

So, I think the next few weeks will pass quickly. This Friday, we head to KC to file a new I-600a. We're making a fun weekend out of it by staying two nights and shopping at the Plaza. I've got our Spring Pledge Drive at work April 3-11. That time always flies by. Our trip to Vegas comes at the end of the pledge drive--we head out April 11. By the time I get back from Vegas, I'll only have 3 more Jeff City Journals left to tape (my public TV program). Then, we're into May. May brings the end of the semester (yay!), the end of the legislative session (double yay!), and (oh, I hope) the filing of our I-600 (a gazillion yays!).

A side note on 3:10 to Yuma. Very violent. I guess I should've expected that since it's a western. Brad enjoyed it because he said it had a good story line but I mostly read a book and listened to it. Not my cup o' tea.

While I was on the eliptical at the gym yesterday, I purused the pages of Vogue. LOVE the fashion. I read a couple of interesting articles too. One was about a new French movie called Priceless. It sounded very cool. Of course, it's not playing around here, not even in KC. Oh well. We'll still find something good to see this weekend. In Bruges, perhaps.

Prague?!?!

I was purusing the website for the German-American journalist exchange program to which I applied a week or so ago and I saw the itinerary from last fall's program. The group went to Prague as part of their two-week adventure! Does this mean a trip to Prague is in the cards for me if I get selected to go this year?!?! How cool would that be?!?!

When I went on the exchange in 2003, we were so fortunate in getting to see a long list of wonderful sites and cities: Berlin, the former Stasi headquarters, Sachsenhausen (concentration camp site), Frankfurt and the Deustche Bank HQs, Brussels and the EU HQs, Dresden and the opera house (my first opera ever!), Sanssouci, Wittenburg, and on and on. It was enough to make those two weeks among the best of my life. And now, it appears we might actually get to add another COUNTRY to the list?!?! How cool would that be? I'll let you know the minute I hear whether or not I've been accepted to this year's program and what the itinerary will be. I'm sure it will be fantastic!

One month down, two to go

At least by my count. That's one month down, two months to go til I think we'll be able to file our I-600. This is the next big step for us. I expect we'll get to do this in mid to late May. But as we all know all too well, timelines in international adoption are always subject to change. I will say that this 3-4 months timeline for filing has held been pretty consistent so I don't expect any major delays. Very exciting, yes?

Hope you had a lovely weekend. It's supposed to be somewhat warm this week here. Yay!!

Happy Easter!

First, HAPPY EASTER! We had a lovely church service, followed by a good meal. We're headed to aerobics this afternoon.

We started watching 3:10 to Yuma last night. It stars two of my faves: Christian Bale (Newsies sell papes.) and Russell Crowe (Maximus Decimus Meridius). We'll finish it this evening but what we saw we liked.

On tap this week? A screening of In Bruges. A trip to Kansas City to renew some adoption paperwork. It's not the next big step (we expect that will come in May) but it's something we need to do because our current paperwork expires in August and we don't want to have to worry about that when travel time comes in or around August. We're making a weekend out of it...staying on the plaza, shopping, good eats, maybe catching a show at one of the theatres up there.

Quick Movie Review

We saw Mothman Prophesies on DVD last night. It was ok. I had seen about half of it one time when Brad was out of town. Admittedly, I got "skeert" and turned it off without finishing it. So, we watched it all last night. Brad didn't care much for it. I thought it was creepy and ok.

If you're looking for hilarity...I've got to give a plug to "Arrested Development." We missed this gem when it was on the air so we're reveling in the Bluth family madness thanks to some loaner DVDs from Greg and Laura. Definitely want to check it out if you haven't already.

Happy Easter Weekend!

We had a beautiful day here yesterday! I was off for Good Friday and enjoyed the prayer vigil at church as well as "prayer driving" through a nearby neighborhood. We went to the Good Friday service last night. It was the beginning of the youth vigil at our church. They're camped out at the foot of a big wooden cross, very visible from one of the busiest two-lanes in town. They've got a tent, a bonfire and an altar. They're also in the midst of a 30 hour fast that ends tonight at 6. We're taking them peanut butter rice crispy treats for when the fast ends. The vigil ends at sunrise on Easter morning.

I hope that Easter brings joy and renewal to your heart! It's a day of hope! Blessings to each of you!

We pause now for some reflections on one part of the Easter story...

Easter is and should be all about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. But around Easter, I always think back on a Sunday during another time of the year. It was Methodist Women's Sunday and our pastor talked about the importance of women in Jesus' ministry and in the life of the church. He talked about how on the morning Jesus rose from the dead, Mary was the first preacher of the resurrection. She was the first to tell others what had happened. What a blessing for a gal who grew up thinking that women couldn't preach! I'm so thankful that we're all created in the image of God. I'm so thankful that Brad's aunt is not just a United Methodist minister but a bishop, the church leader for all of South Carolina.

Growing up, we would somtimes watch a woman who preached on television, Anne Gimenez. And though the church where I grew up believed women could not preach, I remember my mom and grandmother noting that Anne could preach better than most men they had heard. How true! When you heard her preach, you couldn't deny the spirit of the Lord was on her.

So, as we celebrate this Easter, I reflect on the hope and joy of serving a risen savior, knowing that I am a child of God. One of the best sermons I ever heard came from our church's associate pastor, a Korean woman who ministers to our congregation with an abundance of love. In one of her first messages to our church, she talked about growing up in Korea, where men hold an elevated status above women. Well, it was her grandmother who helped lead her to Christ. During her sermon, she extended her arms, looked toward heaven and said that when she was saved, she rejoiced because she finally understood that she "was a child of God, created in God's image." Thanks be to God.

Want to know more about what our church believes about women in ministry? Check out these links:
About United Methodist Clergywomen
Women Reflect on the Call to Preach
The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women

Freeze Tag!

Laura tagged me on the blog here! I copied and pasted the down-lo from her blog:

-You have to tag 5 people (you can't tag the person that tagged you)
-You leave them a comment on their blog (‘you’re tagged’ and ‘why’)
-Direct them to your blog for instructions…when you get tagged, you post ten fun facts about yourself!

Ta da:

1. I love France and all things French. I studied the language for 4 years in high school and all thru college. I took an entire semester on the history of the French Revolution. I heart Paris. Why? C'est la langue, la culture, la haute couture, la nourriture. (translation: It's the language, the culture, the clothes, the food.) I wish we could live abroad. There's just nothing comparable to strolling the streets of Paris on a beautiful sunny day.

2. I'm a beach bum. I enjoy lounging around on a sandy strand...curled up under an umbrella with a good book (another fact: I LOVE TO READ). A few of my faves: Wailea (Maui), Cabarete (Dominican Republic), Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), South Beach (Miami).

3. I love good movies! There's nothing like being transported to another time or place. Good dialogue, great acting, solid directing, the artistry of cinematography...Don't get me started. Don't even get me started.

4. I love theatre. Whether I'm in a production or in the audience, it's magical. I remember reading that choreographer Bob Fosse, even after becoming famous, would hang out at the stage door, looking as wide-eyed and starstruck as all the other audience members. I never want to lose that sense of awe and wonder that I feel when I see live theatre.

5. Nothing feels better than a good laugh. It takes so little to get me going...and I love that. That's why I dig TV shows like Scrubs, Saturday Nigh Live and Arrested Development (thanks Greg and Laura for sharing!).

6. My kitties are my babies. Yep, there's no denying that they are "the kids." At least for a few more months...Ahhh, they'll still be the kids...They're just getting a baby brother!

7. My dream job would be writing for a travel magazine. I love to find deals and cool little places to stay and eat. Getting paid to do those things? That would be sweet.

8. I play piano. I sing. I paint (occasionally). I do theatre. I have to have some creative outlets in my life.

9. I likes to run and workout. It's fun stuff. I'm always amazed at what our bodies can do!

10. I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have Brad as my husband. He's the bomb diggity. He makes me laugh. He puts up with my craziness, which is abundant at times. He loves me just the way I am. Does it get any better?

So, now I'm off to play tag with some folks...Weedy, Katie, and Court, it's your turn!!

Something cool at the mall

I was at the mall today, waiting for the auto folks at Sears to equip my car with new tires so it would pass the stupid state inspection. I wandered into this t-shirt shop. I found the coolest t-shirt for Zeke. It had this on the front: I was worth the wait. Of course, I couldn't resist! What a wonderful thing to stumble across at the mall. I thought it was cool.

My Postcard

Renaissance Hotels is having a contest...create a postcard of a memorable trip and get a chance to win a trip to Paris. You know I couldn't resist! Click here to see the postcard I created using my photos from Paris.

I hates me some guv'ment

Brad can tell you. I hate dealing with the government. He does our taxes. He renews our license plates. Well, out of the kindness of my heart, I decided to get the car inspected yesterday since I got off work in the afternoon and that needed to get done before we could get new plates. Well, I have a theory. I think these inspections are the biggest crock EVER. I think it's a way for auto shops to make money. So, of course, they told me I need new tires. So, there was NO WAY I was giving them the satisfaction of selling me tires. I'm taking the car to another shop to get tires put on. Then I'll take it back there for them to approve (or whatever thing it is they do). I know all the safety reasons for the inspections...but c'mon. Do I need big brother forcing me to get my car checked? Give me a break!!

Flooding

The rain started last night and hasn't really let up. Area streets are flooded. A town south of here is sandbagging businesses that are close to a river. They may have to evacuate some nearby nursing homes...yikes! At least it's not too cold. Because it would be really bad if it were rainy AND cold. Still, the rain is bad enough...

We're still here!

Sorry for the lack of blogging of late. It's been busy. We made a quick trip for the visitation and funeral for Brad's aunt. The funeral was a beautiful service. And as Brad said, we were celebrating someone who lived a full, happy life. I'm glad we were able to be there.

No news on the Zeke front. We continue to pray for the little guy, for his nannies, for his birthparents and for every person who's working on the paperchase in these final two stages.

It's Holy Week. Growing up in a Baptist church, we really didn't observe any of the days leading up to Easter, though Easter was most certainly a very special day at our church. As an adult, I've really enjoyed learning about and observing Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Palm Sunday is the celebration of the Messiah arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey. The children of our church wave palm branches as a man portraying Jesus enters the sanctuary. It's joyous and wonderful. Our pastor gave a wonderful sermon on the importance of not just being a cheerleader for Christ, waving palm branches on Palm Sunday...but being a follower of Christ...a follower who goes into the Garden and prays, who goes to the foot of the cross as Christ suffers. Then, Maundy Thursday is the observance of the Last Supper. The Methodist church has its Maundy Thursday at dusk. As the service progresses, as we take communion, the sanctuary falls into darkness. We leave in silence. We are joining in a churchwide fast Thursday 8PM-Friday 3PM. Friday, there is a prayer vigil at church. At noon Friday, church members are going on a driving prayer vigil. We'll be assigned a neighborhood and will pray for the homes and the families as we drive the streets. Should be a wonderful experience. Our youth are engaging in a 30 hour fast Easter weekend to raise money for an organization that feeds the hungry. I'm always so proud of our youth for holding a vigil outside our church at the foot of a huge wooden cross from Friday to Sunday sunrise. It's extra special this year with their commitment to fast. Finally, we celebrate the resurrection Sunday morning.

You can see how Holy Week helps add meaning to the Easter Sunday celebration. No matter how you do it, I hope you have a meaningful Holy Week and a joyous Easter!

Beloved Betty

Brad's Aunt Betty passed away this week. Thank you for your prayers.

Is another trip to Europe in the cards for Missy?!?!

I just got word today that I'm eligible to re-apply for the fellowship I had in 2003 that allowed me to spend THREE weeks in Germany and Belgium. Can I just tell you that the two fellowship trips I've had to Europe (the one last summer and the one in 2003) have been some of the best times of my life?!?! Seriously! I got to stay in really excellent hotels, learn interesting information from top leaders, do some sightseeing and attend some cultural events...The hardest part was being away from Brad. Last summer when I was in Europe, we didn't even talk on the phone once while I was away...partly because I was SOOO busy and had a very hectic travel schedule (remember, breakfast in Poland, lunch in Paris, dinner in Brussels?) and partly because we did instant messaging several times and sent several emails. Plus, I was only gone a week. I remember how very much I missed Brad though in 2003 when I was gone for 3 weeks. I don't yet know if I'm going this year or how long I'll be gone (2 weeks or 3). I'll keep you posted. But I'm giddy with the thought that I'll get to do this again! Some photos from my 2003 trip to Germany:

Missy sleeps in a cathedral in Meissen, Germany. It had been a long day!

Missy interviews Rolf, a German POW during World War II who was held in Missouri!

What's Going on in China

As those of you on this same journey can attest to, the actions of the Chinese government can often be bewildering, confusing and often beyond our ability to grasp.

Beijing is obviously focused now on getting things ready for the Olympics (starting 8-8-8). They are spiffing the place up, trying to clear up the pollution problem, and oh yeah... this.

As I told Missy, we may need to bring back more than just a child from China.

Organic Everything

I've mapped out our major pre-Zeke purchases so we can make one big purchase each month, spread the costs out a bit. Last month, we bought the rocker. This month, we're buying the crib mattress. So, Brad and I agreed we'd both do some research and come back with a recommendation. I googled crib mattress recall and found a website railing against the use of non-organic crib mattresses. Apparently, the chemicals on standard crib mattresses are highly toxic. Yikes! So, I started checking out organic crib mattresses...made from all natural fibers, no chemicals. Turns out that to get less (no chemcials, no synthetics) you actually pay more...a lot more. I haven't shown Brad all this info yet but I'm sure he'll be interested in reading more about organic v. non-organic crib mattresses. Who knew?

Fasting...

I've really been contemplating whether I ought to be fasting as part of this journey, to put action behind the furtive prayers I've been praying practically non-stop over Zeke and getting him home soon...And then I read this from a woman on one of the yahoo groups who got her approval to travel in 13 business days (a timeline that's unheard of!):

A few of us PAP's (Prospective Adoptive Parents) have felt very burndend to pray and fast for our children waiting to come home...I know it is a bit short notice... but tomorrow - March 7th, I would like to invite all of you to join us in fasting and praying for our children to come home! In the Bible, fasting is a way to really draw near to God and to let Him know you are very serious about things. And I can't think of a better reason than our children to do this.

For a variety of logistical reasons, we're not participating in tomorrow's fast. But the youth from our church will be fasting Easter weekend. We're planning to participate in that fast with them. We also are contemplating a weekly fast of one meal to focus on prayers for Zeke. Would you consider fasting with us as we pray intently about getting our little guy home and all the other babies who are waiting for their families to get them?

What's on your list?

The recent movie "Bucket List" (which we didn't see) is supposed to make you think about what you want to do, what you want to see, where you want to go before you die. Well, I've been blessed with incredible opportunities. I've walked on the Great Wall. I've peered into communist Cuba. I've attended a press conference at the European Union. I've run a half-marathon. I've visited the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Versailles and Sacre Coeur. I've hiked Diamond Head in Hawaii. But there are still a few items on my list:

1. Stay in an over water bungalow in Bora Bora.
2. Visit the Taj Mahal.
3. See New Zealand.
4. Stay in a castle in Scotland.
5. Go back to Hawaii.
6. Go back to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.
7. Be a contestant on Survivor.
8. Run a full marathon.

So, what's on your "bucket list?"

Not a bad place to be stuck..

Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near the beach.

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

We would be remiss if we did not pause to remember our boy.. Patrick Swayze.. Dirty Dancing.. Ghost.. Road House.. Waking Up in Reno..The Outsiders

He's got pancreatic cancer... the hype makes it sound pretty bad.. the disease killed Michael Landon.. ET says life expectancy is 6-9 months.. doctors told ET there is more rumor than fact in media reports..

If you're not familiar with DD, shame on you.. watch this

Socktopus

I think I spelled that right...A local artist makes octopus creatures out of kids socks. They are SOOO cute! I encountered them when they were on display at our local indie theatre a few weeks ago. We know the theatre owners and I asked them how to connect with the artist. So I got her email and lo and behold, she has agreed to create two customized socktopus creatures for Zeke's nursery (and for a reasonable price to boot)!! I told her the colors of the baby bedding and that we're doing an underwater theme. She's going to have them ready for me sometime in April. I'll definitely photograph these little guys and post so you can see them. Having all this time to get ready for Zeke's arrival has enabled me to find some really cute things for the nursery...more to come!

Poor Baby...

Brad just called. His flight home was cancelled so he's stuck tonight in Jacksonville. I use the word stuck lightly...because I'm sure having to spend another night in 80+ degree environs doesn't feel like you're stuck. So, our plans for Branson tomorrow are likely off. But I'm still going to split early from work to pick him up from the airport...maybe we can just enjoy the afternoon together!

We are thinking about entering an adventure race. This would involve running, biking, orienteering and canoeing. You have to have a team of four so we're trying to hornswaggle Greg and Laura into doing this with us. If we do it, I'll need to whip myself into shape. Brad and I are going to start on the 5k circuit on March 15. We enjoy these short races...You definitely have do some training. I'm sure there will be lots of fun photos to post when all that starts up. It will be a good chance for me to try out my new shoes. I'm thinking that if we do more races, I'm going to get a Nano. There's actually some weirdness in my shoes that connects sans wires to the Nano so you can track how many miles you've run. COOLNESS! Then, Brad can have my shuffle. When I run, that shuffle is more important to me than a good pair of shoes. My tunes get me through the race!

No news on the Zeke front. You're welcome to ask me as often as you like. Just know that we probably won't hear anything until May. In a way that seems far off and in a way, I know it will be here before we know it. Before May, I hope and pray that we get a new set of Zeke photos to enjoy. I think we will but I have no idea when those will come. We love this little baby so much. Brad said he went to a meditation garden in Florida this morning and prayed for Zeke.

Brad Returns!

I'm so glad Brad will be back this evening. It hasn't been much fun "bach"ing it for a few days. I've been working like crazy so there were no evenings spent luxuriating in the quiet alone-time. He gets in tonight and we both have a very early morning tomorrow...ugg. But he's supposed to speak at some conference in Branson tomorrow afternoon so I'm going to cut out of work early and go with him. This will mean shopping time for me and then we'll have dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.

Is it March?

It looks more like December or January. We have about 8 inches of snow on the ground today. Blah. I made it safely to work and plan to head up to the state capitol later today. Supposedly, the roads will be fine once I get about 30 miles out of town. I'm keeping close tabs on things. Brad picked a great time to go to Florida, huh? He left yesterday morning. So, while I'm being a snow bunny, he's being a beach bum. I told him he had to bring me back a treat of some kind since I'm enduring this nasty weather alone.

Hope it's warm where you are!

Getting comfy

If we're going to be waiting a while...at least we'll be comfortable.

This is our new rocker for the nursery. (Why yes, Brad is sporting a Fun Fest tee.)

Where we are and where we're going

So, just to let you know where we stand and what comes next in the process:

We have our CFC (Child For Consideration)...that's Zeke! YAY!

In approximately three months, we will get notice from our case manager that it's time to file our I-600. This is the form asking the US government to agree that Zeke is truly an orphan. It's supposed to take the US government 60 working days to process this form but it's taking much longer. Once that approval comes in, we travel a week or two later.

So, two more big steps: filing the I-600 and getting I-600 approval. We're stuck until we get these two steps out of the way. We are in constant prayer over this process, asking God to expedite the remaining steps, to safeguard us and Zeke in the process. There's a lot of frustration because the US government is taking so long to process the I-600s. We are not at that step yet so I'm remaining calm until we see what happens in our case. There are many families though just waiting for that approval. That's the only thing standing between them and their babies. I pray for them too. International adoption is not for the faint of heart...

A devotional that has meant a lot to me...from Feb 28's Upper Room

Paul wrote, "When I am weak, then I am strong."
-2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

THE Christian life is full of ironies. One I have discovered is that my greatest natural strengths sometimes turn into my biggest spiritual weaknesses. How can this be?

By nature, I am a detail person; I like order, planning, and predictability. On my spiritual journey, however, God is retraining me not to fear seeming disorder. When confronted with a puzzling circumstance, my first inclination is to search for all the missing pieces and quickly fit them together to generate a finished product -- usually with less-than-desirable results.
But God has a better plan: walking by faith. Rather than revealing the whole panorama at once, God shows me the first step in dealing with my problem. As I obey, God reveals the next step. But walking this way tends to make me feel anxious and out of control.

However, as I practice walking step by step with Christ, this way is becoming more natural. I am learning that when I feel weak and vulnerable, I can trust God's infinite strength rather than my limited abilities.

Lois Duble (Maryland, U.S.A.)

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to give up trying to operate in my own strength. Continue to show me that my human strengths may be weaknesses in your sight and that true strength comes from you. Amen.

Thought for the Day:
When I recognize that I am weak, I open myself to receive God's strength.

Prayer Focus:
Those who want to control life