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

Ta Da!

I decided it was time to re-vamp the look of the blog. We hadn't had a major change since we started it in 2006 for our IVF cycle. I've also added a ticker that counts forward from the first day we saw Zeke's face. I hope its a reminder to pray that the remaining steps move along quickly!

Have a great weekend!

Ladybug

Brad was on the computer last night and found a ladybug on one of the speakers. Though I'm notorious for my bug-phobia, I have to say that I heart ladybugs. They are a good sign for those pursuing Asian adoptions. So, we thought it was very cool that we found a ladybug in the house...Of course, it could also mean it's getting time for the bug man to come around again!

Now that it's just us friends...

I wanted to re-post the announcement about Zeke, in case any of you wanted to chime in...I kept the comments from the original post.

Hope you have a great Friday!!

We are ELATED to announce that we've been matched to the most beautiful baby in the world!! We recently got the news of our CFC (child for consideration) and have fallen in love with this precious baby!! Praise the Lord for giving us this most incredible gift...we are undeserving of such an amazing blessing!!

Meet Ezekiel "Zeke" Buu:
He was born in northern Vietnam in October. He currently lives in an orphanage where we believe he's receiving excellent care. He's chubby and beautiful! His birth parents relinquished custody. We will meet them and learn more details about the circumstances surrounding their decision when we travel to Vietnam for the adoption. He weighed about 6.5 pounds when he was two weeks old. He's healthy. We hope and pray that we can travel to get him in August. It could be earlier, it could be later. Please join us in prayer as we wait for the final pieces of paperwork to move through the process. Pray that all that remains to be done will be done quickly and efficiently.

Why can't we post a photo of our beloved baby?!?! He is not yet legally ours though he's already our son as far as we're concerned. So, we'll abide by the rules and won't post his photo until he can make his big debut on the blog the day of our Giving and Receiving Ceremony (when we get legal custody of him in Vietnam).

We thank God for matching this baby to our family. All the years of struggle, pain, tears, frustration suddenly fade into the background as we gaze into these big, beautiful eyes. We know it all led to this. (Like the song: It's just like you to bring beauty to ashes. It's just like. Lord, it's just like you.)

We constantly think about this little one waiting patiently for us to come. Naturally, we wish we could be on a plane NOW but we are at peace and full of joy as we wait. We trust God to care for Zeke until we get there and pray for his continued health and safety. We pray for the nannies who care for him. We pray for his birthparents who have made an incredibly difficult decision.

We are in awe of God and this process: joining a family in one country with a baby on the other side of the world.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. YOU are a part of Zeke's life story and we are so grateful for each one of you!

Zeke, we love you. We are coming...

More co-me-dee

made by ranger1
Originally uploaded by boyshapedbox

The wait for Zeke is so long, we're keeping ourselves laughing all the way. This kind of stuff helps:

Flickr Awesomeness

made by timbearcub on LJ
Originally uploaded by boyshapedbox

Check out this awesome creation.

Our boy...

Brad's brother Travis sent us an email recently, saying the words to the Carter Family song "Wandering Boy" came to him and they reminded him of us and Zeke:

Out in the cold world and far away from home,
somebody's boy is wandering alone.
No one to guide him and keep his footsteps right,
somebody's boy is homeless tonight.

Chorus:
Bring back my boy, my wandering boy,
So far away wherever he may be.
Tell him his mother with faded cheeks and hair,
at their old home is waiting him there.

Oh, could I see him and fold him to my breast,
that way I'd close my eyes and be at rest.
There is no other that's left to give me joy,
bring back my boy, my wandering boy.

A story of healing and forgiveness

A friend of ours went to Rwanda and has just produced a documentary on the reconciliation workshops that seek to bring peace, healing and forgiveness to the people who lost so much during the genocide. The trailer is amazing:

Missy Plays Dress Up

Yes, I admit it. I had fun getting dressed up last Sunday night for the red carpet event. It was great.

Speaking of the Oscars...SNL's Bill Hader did a hilarious send-up this past weekend of Daniel Day-Lewis' character from "There Will Be Blood."



I did think it was too bad that the score from "There Will Be Blood" got snubbed and didn't get an Oscar nod. It's really different than most scores, creative and appropriate for the film. Brad said there might be some technicality that disqualified it from consideration...still...

Missy on the Red Carpet

Missy LIVE on the Red Carpet

Missy LIVE on the Red Carpet

Flip-flopper

Call me a flip-flopper. I'm biting the bullet and taking this puppy private. Hope you enjoy the new, private blog.

The latest...We were planning to go to the USCIS office this weekend to file a new I-600a. But I found out today that we have to have a new, updated home study done. BOO! This will take a couple of weeks so we cancelled our appointment at USCIS and will re-schedule for some time in March. There's no real rush on this...still, I want to get it done.

A Compromise

I've decided to keep this blog public but I will be pulling back the amount of personal adoption info that gets posted. I will continue to use this blog to discuss adoption/fertility issues. I hope you will stay with me. As for blogging about Zeke...I will be sending those updates to family another way but will keep you up to date on the big milestones. So, I hope this is a way for all of us to stay in touch and for us to maintain a bit more privacy at the same time. Thanks for being so understanding!

A little more about taking the blog private

We just feel like we want to be protective of our baby's privacy. We are delighted that so many people are interested in our boring lives...*smile* but we also want to have a sense of control over our information, how it's distributed and to whom we distribute it. There's so little we can control in this process so...that's it. No worries. We're very excited to be moving forward with our adoption. We hope and pray we travel in August/September. Thank you for sticking with us through all this!

Privacy...

We are making the blog private on Wednesday.

Oscar Night

The Academy Awards has always ben an annual event in our home. The Pick 'Em contest gets heated.
This year, we were part of the Oscar Night America celebration in town. Missy worked the Red Carpet Seacrest-style.

(That's a real Academy Award - won by Tom Whitlock for "Take my Breath Away.")

(Once again Brad thoroughly dominated in the Pick 'Em.)

Back home...

...at least in the home office. I had slick roads for about the first hour of my drive but then things got better. I'm so, so glad to be back home.

STRANDED!!

I'm stranded tonight in the capital city because of snow and ice on the roads. I had hoped, nay, planned to be home today. But alas...So, what did I do? I complained to Brad about being stuck (thanks for listening, hon) and then went shopping! I soothed my soul with some $2.99 tank tops from Old Navy. SWEET!

If you want to see some folks enjoying the cold, check out Greg and Laura.

What's floating my boat these days? What am I thankful for in the depths of this winter? I'll share my list if you'll share yours:

*The Indiana Jones trailer
*Flip-flops being sold in stores. YES!
*Easter/Spring items in stores. Who doesn't love a cute bunny or chic on a hand towel?
*Working out, running.
*Playing the piano.
*Reading Duma Key by Stephen King.
*A new season of Survivor
*A new season of LOST
*The anticipation of Holy Week: The Passover, Maundy Thursday, the Good Friday youth vigil in front of our church by the big wooden cross that ends at sunrise on Easter.
*The kitties and their never-ending love for us.
*The promise of Spring.
*All of you!!

I'm happy:

Randomness

To quote (again!) one of my favorite songs:

I throw up my hands.
Oh, the impossibilities.
Frustrated and tired, where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly.
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fears.

We've got another round of snow and ice on the way. Is anyone else really, really put out with this cold weather?

The Oscars are Sunday night. Brad's TV station is hosting a big gala/fundraiser so he'll be tied up with that and evidently, I've been drafted to host some pre-show. Stay tuned...

Fruity

So, this is what happens when I get a little wild at the grocery store! I'm off today for Prez Day and I decided to make a really nice dinner for Brad because I love him and he had to work today. So, I was purusing the fruit section and saw one remaining papaya. I thought, "What the heck?" Eating tropical fruit sure does sound delicious and not at all like February. So, when I spliced that baby open, well...you can see how beautiful it was:

I put the papaya together with non-fat plain yogurt, a carton of blueberries and some honey for a delicious smoothie. Yum!! I also spent some time pouring through the 2008 Cooking Light book today. I found some spring recipes that are sure to get rid of the winter blues.

I also spent part of my day shopping for some new tennies. I found some I really liked at Shoe Carnival. They were even on sale! I got to the register and they rang up $15 more than I expected. I said, "I thought these were on sale." The cashier said, "Just the blue ones." Naturally, the blues ones didn't come in my size (that's amazon size 11). So, I sucked it up and bought the ones I liked that were my size. My rationale? I'll wear these puppies A LOT and I've been kicking around the idea of training for a full marathon pre-Zeke. So, if I end up doing that, my new Nike Pegasus trainers will come in handy. (For all those Mario Brothers fans out there, I kept thinking, "I'm getting myself a P-Wing!!")

March is coming!

It's cold here and rainy. Blah. I'm so ready for warm weather. The fact that March is coming into view is very exciting!!

We had a lovely evening out last night. We had dinner at a favorite local restaurant (a belated Valentine's Day dinner out...though Brad really outdid himself Thusday night when he prepared filet mignon and french onion soup...magnifique!). After dinner, we saw the romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe. It was sweet and cute. We had fun.

Hope your weekend is going well. I'm excited because I am off work tomorrow. Poor Brad has to work. But we're both taking off at the end of the month because we'll need to make the haul to have new fingerprints done and file a new I-600a. Ours expire in August and while we hope and pray we travel by then, we just don't want to cut it close. So, we file a new one now and we don't have to worry about it. We're going to make a long weekend out of our trip to the USCIS office. It will be nice to get away!!

Happy Heart Day!

Hope you are having a very happy Valentine's Day! I gave Brad his present last week (the DVD King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters) but I had a cool Superman card for him this morning. He gave me my gift this morning: Stephen King's latest "Duma Key." It's set in Florida and given the ice and snow of recent days, I can't wait to delve into this book with its warm-weather setting. And as if that weren't enough...Brad's making dinner for me tonight! We'll continue our V-Day celebration this Saturday with dinner at a favorite local restaurant and the romantic movie Definitely, Maybe, starring Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine fame.

Happy Festivus!

Yes -- Happy Festivus! As Brad was recovering from his procedure Tuesday, we sat down to watch an episode from Season 9 of Seinfeld. The episode "The Strike" features the now-famous Castanza celebration known as Festivus.

But as the Notes About Nothing (a feature on the Seinfeld DVD set) reminded us, the original Festivus, as celebrated in the home of Seinfeld writer Dan O'Keefe, was celebrated on the first anniversary of his parents' first date - February 12, as in TODAY!

And now a history lesson..

Important stuff to know about Iran and the United States:

Some Belated Chicago Pics

A description from top to bottom: Brad at the China Christmas Tree at the Museum of Science and Industry, a pizza from Lou's (YUM!), Brad as an astronaut, and Missy on the streets of the Windy City.

Laughs

Brad's been reading some books on Saturday Night Live. Chris Farley probably makes the top ten of all-time SNL performers. Here's why:

The Rebellion

So, the kitties had made a MESS in the bathroom when we went to "free" them this morning. This is their way of saying, "Hey, geniuses. Don't put us in a dumb old bathroom all night." Ok, ok...so, we'll have to come up with some other "strategery" for keeping them content and quiet at night.

We woke up to sleet, freezing rain and ice. We're under a winter storm warning til midnight. We took one car to work and we made it in just fine. Getting home may be another matter. We'll see how the day progresses. I asked Brad before we left the house if we absolutely needed to go to work. His response? "We're news people. This is what we do." True, true.

A De-Lux Apartment in the Skyyyyy

So, the kitties had been spending the night in Zeke's nursery-to-be (they're too rowdy to sleep in our bed or to roam the house at night). There's no mattress in the crib so they couldn't get in there. But they could get on the changing table. So, when we first set up the changing table, I removed the pad that came with it and put their "baby bed" on there. When Brad checked on them the other night, he said they were both curled up on the changing table together in their "baby bed." I like to think of the changing table as their "deluxe apartment in the sky" (Jeffersons, anyone?). But I've decided that it's time to move them out. When the rocker comes, they certainly will not be allowed to nest on it. Don't even get me started on the crib mattress. They'll never be allowed in there. And I am collecting toys, blankets and things for Zeke...things that I'd like to begin to put out where I can see them and enjoy them while we wait. So, the kitties are losing their deluxe accomodations. They'll have to adjust.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend. We had 400+ in the GYM service at church today as we celebrated the Upward sports program. It was great to see so many new faces! We hope that many of those families will be back in the Sundays ahead.

Zeke Shopping!

So, we ordered a rocker/glider for the nursery today. How exciting! We took the quilt from the bedding we bought last fall and picked a color for the chair that we thought would be complimentary. We'll see! It's going to be green. I think it will be lovely. I also indulged in buying some clothes, a bath towel and some booties this week. Too cute, huh?!?!



Nerd alert! This morning in aerobics, we were stretching, laying on our bellies. Our instructor asked us to push up the upper parts of our bodies, in the cobra pose (only she didn't use the words "cobra pose"). Brad and I looked at each other and simultaneously smiled. After class, Brad said we were big nerds to both think about the same 30-year-old joke in aerobics class. What made us smile? Take a look:

Ash Wednesday

Lyrics from one of my favorite songs...very appropriate for Ash Wednesday:

For my ashes You give me beauty
For my mourning You give me joy
For my tears, Lord, You give me kisses
Oh, yeah, that’s how good You are
Oh, yeah, that’s how good You are

Gracious and Compassionate
You are so good, You are so good
Slow to anger, rich in love
You are so good, You are so good

Missy Interviews Bill Clinton!

Yes! Someone with the Clinton campaign called about an hour ago to ask if I wanted to do a one-on-one interview with the former president. So, I did the interview. Here's a sample:

Super Fat Tuesday

Do you live in a Super Tuesday state? Did you vote today? It looks like voters are turning out in droves where we live. Brad and I cast our ballots this morning before work. Gotta love democracy.

It's Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday. The opportunity to live it up before the start of Lent. We will observe Ash Wednesday tomorrow with a church service. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It's a time for reflection and self-evaluation, to ask ourselves how we're doing as followers of Christ. Rather than just giving up something for Lent, our church encourages us to give something away during Lent...For example, you may decide not to eat out at a restaurant during Lent and give the money you save to relief efforts in another country or to support missions. The point is to evaluate how you spend your time, money and energy and ask whether it lines up with God's priorities for your life. I think it's a wonderful opportunity for discovery and self-examination. We will leave tomorrow's church service with ashes in the shape of a cross on our forehead. You may ask, "What's with the ashes on the forehead?" Here's an explanation from the United Methodist Website:

The cross is our "brand." While the ashes remind us we will all die, the form of the ashes as the sign of the cross says we belong to Christ; and as such in these days ahead, we will try to live that out as fully as we can -- even as we lead others to make a similar commitment.

I loves me some weekends!

I'm ready for the weekend! We got about 3-4 inches of snow yesterday, enough for a good blanket on the grass. It's really pretty. The roads were ok this morning going to work. As I mentioned, we're going to see a movie this weekend. Should be fun times!

Also this weekend, we're helping the local international adoptive families group put on a Chinese New Year celebration. That should be loads of fun. I know the families who have kids from China bring them all decked out in their Chinese dresses. It's the year of the rat so the group has procured giant gummi rats to give out. How funny! In Vietnam, the new year celebration is called Tet. It's celebrated at the same time. Good-bye year of the pig, hello year of the rat!

Lord, give me patience...NOW!

I laugh every time I think of that. My sister once said that's how most people pray for patience...give it to me NOW!

I'm just going to say it. I don't expect a referral until March. That's based on nothing but a guess I pulled out of thin air. I figure that's as good as anything else. If it's sooner, great. If it's later...well, let's just not go there. YOUR patience with this process is appreciated. Thank you for keeping this vigil with us.

Thank for the sweet, encouraging posts this week (this means you, Mandy and Alisa). It means the world to us to hear from everyone who takes the time to post a comment. THANK YOU!!

My mom's birthday was yesterday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! She's running for president, you know...

We're going to see The Orphanage this weekend. Sounds like the perfect movie for a couple getting ready to adopt a baby from an orphanage, right? Well, it's not a sweet film, it's a horror movie! Not sure what to think about that but it's supposed to be really good (horror movies seldom get good reviews so I'm excited about seeing it). Even better, it's playing at our local indie cinema!

Optimal Eating Plan

Brad got a DVD of Dr. Andrew Weil from the library. He had it on last night. It was a real snoozer but his points were well taken. Eat less animal protein, eat more veggies, especially colorful ones. We need to put our kitty, Pierre Clovis on an optimal eating plan (Dr. Weil does not call it a diet). But alas, PC is not the only one around our house who could stand to drop a few pounds. So, I'm renewing my plan to eat well. We'll see how it goes. I really want to be svelte when we head to Vietnam!!

Viva Las Vegas? Sure. As you may recall, our first trip to Sin City was less than spectacular last April. Nonetheless, Brad and I are heading back because it's a free trip for both of us. Brad actually has to work. For me, it's a reunion with my buds who went with me to Germany in 2004. As much as I griped about the smoke and the hoards of people, the weather was very nice for mid-April. It was warm enough for tank tops and flip-flops. With as much as 8 inches of snow headed our way tomorrow, I'm happy to look forward to this warm weather adventure. Plus, there's this store that had the cutest stuff. Brad laughs at me for obsessing for months about going back to this one stupid store.

(P.S. Did I mention I would NEVER take a child to Las Vegas?!?!)

Just a thought...

Someday, I will sit down with Zeke and Lily and I will tell them how long we waited. I will tell them how hard we prayed. I will tell them how much we hoped. I will tell them how our hearts ached to hold them the entire time. I will tell them that all our friends and family hoped and prayed and waited with us. And they will know how much they are loved. This wait is part of their story too.

Adjusting Expectations

Given that we thought "for sure" that we'd get a referral before Christmas and here we are, February knocking on the door, we're going to be very conservative in our estimates of travel. We are simply going to say that we hope to travel by the end of the year to get Zeke. Will it be sooner than December? I certainly hope so! But, given the unexpected twists and turns of this process and the roller coaster-ness of international adoption, I'm going with an uber conservative estimate...and then hope to be pleasantly surprised.

Check out our presidential endorsement if you haven't already. I think you'll enjoy.

Also, look at the teddy bear being hawked in the national circulars this weekend. Brad had fun scanning the ad and posting it.

We saw two great movies this weekend: There Will Be Blood and Michael Clayton. Both are intense and definitely worth seeing. Even though they're both excellent films, we still think No Country for Old Men should get the best pic award on Oscar Sunday. It took the top prize at last night's SAG Awards. And it was no surprise that the incomparable Daniel Day Lewis got the SAG honor for best acting. He turns in the best performance of 2007 in There Will Be Blood...hands down!

I couldn't resist...

Fun with captions:

Our Endorsement for President

Election day here is February 5th. We've given a lot of consideration to the candidates. Experience vs. vision. International expertise vs. domestic objectives.

After much consideration, we are both planning to cast our ballots for the person we think is the best candidate out there. This person's campaign has been relatively lo key; however, supporters are rabid in their devotion.

This candidate has more than three decades of experience in healthcare. They've given babies the guidance and support they need to get a healthy start in life. We think this candidate can give this country the same kind of boost to begin a new chapter in U.S. history.

Our candidate has been a working parent for more than thirty years. The children are healthy, upstanding citizens -- proof this person can raise this country to a higher standard.

We are very excited about this candidate's faith. A dedicated church-goer, they understand the spiritual backbone of this country.

There's a lot more to tell about this candidate. Feel free to learn more at their official campaign website.

You Can Scratch this off the Registry!

The Sunday circulars are one of the hilights of my Sunday. New ads from the big box stores.

Then this thing made our year:

I know some of your are disappointed you won't able to get one of these for recently celebrated birthdays. We'll make it up to you this Christmas.

Happy Birfday to Weedy!

Today, my baby sis turns 28 years old! HAPPY BIRFDAY! You can read about her big birthday adventures on her blog. Check out this photo...can you tell which is the real Moo and which is the birthday card from me? I know, it's hard to tell!

"For the moments I feel faint"

Thanks to Brian and Curt for singing this song this past Sunday. They only brought it out of retirement because it was my birthday. This is one of the best songs ever and I love the words:

"I throw up my hands, 'Oh, the impossibilities,'
Frustrated and tired
Where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear."

"Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you you're wrong."

Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong."

This song reminds me that I can be strong through this season of waiting...no matter how hard it is to stay positive at times...

Movie rentals

Over the birthday weekend, we rented Zodiac and Miss Potter. Brad's assessment of Zodiac is right on: It's too long. There's not enough of Robert Downey, Jr. whose character is the most interesting. And not enough character development in general. It's less like watching a movie and more like reading a police blotter. There is one really tense scene where the cartoonist finds himself in a creepy basement with a guy he's interviewing. Other than that, it's a bit of a snoozer. The other movie, Miss Potter is most excellent! Rene Zellweger and Ewan McGregor are delightful in this biopic about Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator of the Peter Rabbit books. The film is about her life, her struggles in the male-dominated world of publishing and the love she finds along the way. It's definitely worth renting...sweet and enjoyable!

The Birthday Heralds

This weekend, I dubbed the cats "birthday heralds." True to their new titles, they heralded the coming of birthday gifts from Brad on Sunday morning. I got out of the shower to find Pierre Clovis standing in a big basket, knee deep in packets of Pop Rocks. There were also two brain drain mags (read: Star and Us Weekly). There was a gift certificate to my favorite pizza parlor and a gift certificate to anthropolgie. I think I'm going to hold the anthropologie gift card until they roll out more spring clothes. I also received cards, emails and phone calls from friends and family. Thank you to everyone for sending your love. It made my day complete! I had a truly wonderful birthday weekend. Brad already told you about the delightful lunch we had Saturday with our friends. It was such a great surprise to see their smiling faces! Dinner Saturday night was lovely. We headed an hour south yesterday for some shopping and good eats. We did not make it to the movies...I just wasn't enthusiastic enough about anything to want to spend time and money at the theatre. Now that the Oscar noms are out, maybe some of those films will be out/back in theatres and we can make the rounds to see those.

Early Birthday Celebrations

From the fingertips of Brad's hands:

We have wrapped up Missy's 31st year in style with great things ahead for Year XXXII.

One of the hilights of the 11,321st day of her life included meeting our adoption family for lunch at Chili's. It's a real treat because Brad is not exactly partial to the popular eatery. (Editor's note: nothing stands out on the menu and the Chili's here still allows smoking in some areas). It was great to have the entire gang + the G-man around for skillet queso, chips, and plenty of good ribbing about heavy handed door-to-door sales people and the men and women who enable them.

Still on tap: dinner at what is likely Missy's favorite restaurant in town and perhaps a movie. The real talker on our lips has been an upcoming release called The Orphanage. It's currently playing in larger markets but is schedule to premiere here in late January.

We've also been having fun watching Family Guy:Blue Harvest. It's a complete spoof of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope -- done with Family Guy characters. It is absolutely worth checking out. (Editor's note: as a longtime Simpsons fan, I'll be the first to admit Family Guy gives Simpsons a run for its money on laughs and satire).

Missy has assembled quite the collection of cat-themed birthday cards this year. I think every one she received has a cat on it. I don't think the cat community would appreciate the exploitation. Just wait til they get wind of this human scheme!

Friday night also found Zodiac in the old DVD player. Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey and Jake Gyllenhall star in an account of the investigation of the Zodiac Killer in California in the late 60s/early 70s. I for one found it a) not human or character driven enough and b) a bit too long. It's definitely a rental.. and even then, I don't know that you're missing anything.

For a few good laughs, I would also encourage you to follow the comedic forensic trail of "Dear Sister." I'm kicking myself for missing this phenomenon back in the spring. It started with this ending to the season-finlae of "The O.C." SNL spoofed that in one of its great digital shorts.

So now that you've seen those two items, do a YouTube search for "Dear Sister" and enjoy.

January Birthdays!

I really do work with people who feel less like co-workers and more like family. A bunch of the gals from work, Brad and I went out for dinner last night to celebrate my upcoming birthday. We had a wonderful time! It's really a blessing to work with people you care about and who care about you.

I have no idea what Brad has planned for this weekend. I know we're going to my favorite local restaurant Saturday night. There are some movies I want to see this weekend too.

A friend recently reminded me that this will be my final birthday before becoming a mom. What a cool thing to think about! This made me really happy! Next year, I'll have my little man Zeke to help me celebrate.

A big Happy Birthday to others with upcoming January birthdays (in order of b-days): Katie (the 19th--TOMORROW)!! Wendy (the 24th)!! Mom (the 30th)!! Love you guys!!

Cold!

It's cold and there were slick roads this morning. Brrr. I've been traveling the last two days. It's good to be back home.

We had a message on our home answering machine this week from our case manager. She said things are "moving along." She just wanted to update us and check in. It was so very nice to hear from her. I left her a message last night thanking her for the call. I have to think this is a very good sign!! We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

Go Back to England!

Some old lady shouted that at the NASA educator as she stood on stage Saturday night during the symphony concert. Why would anyone heckle the NASA educator? And why would you heckle her in a way that makes no sense (she's not British)?!?! Maybe some wise crack about one planet in particular might have gotten a few chuckles but as it was, no one laughed and it was just an uncomfortable pause in an otherwise lovely concert. The NASA educator was at the symphony concert because the theme was "Out of This World" and the orchestra played Gustav Holst's The Planets Suite. Anyway, we had fun at the concert. We had a nice weekend.


I read on another blog that a family who is "ahead" of us for Vietnam got their referral last week. Their dossier came back from the consulate a week before ours did. So we've GOT to be close! I know...I feel like the little boy who yelled Wolf...but one day soon, it's going to happen. Thank you for sticking with us and for keeping the faith. Also, we got some good news from our agency that the process is improving post-referral (the time between the match and travel). I keep hoping for progress on that front too because once we're matched with OUR ZEKE, we'll join that line of families waiting to get their paperwork processed for the I-600. Ahhhh...the never-ending stream of paperwork...fun times.

The Organ

At some point in my childhood, my mother procured an organ for our home. It was pretty darn cool. I used to love to play around on that thing. I played enough to get a good feel for the two keyboards and the foot pedals. Pretty fun stuff. So, it was a slight flashback this Wednesday when I was at church music rehearsal. For offering this Sunday, I'm playing the keyboard in organ mode for a bluesy-rock-gospel tune by Caedmon's Call and Derek Webb. It's a tune called "Trouble" that has a sweet melody and even sweeter words. By the time we finished rehearsing, I thought we were sounding good! I'm glad the Mattson boys invited me to rock with them! I think we'll have fun playing and the congregation will get a blessing. A sampling of the words from "Trouble":

I got trouble.
I got trouble all over me.
I got trouble since the day I was born.
And it's not just a struggle.
It's the blood running through my veins
And it's all the clothes I've ever worn.
'Cause when I'm with you
I feel so overdressed.

The trouble is I'm not above or beyond anything
So I know you must be good for me.
As far as you can and as bad as I am
I know you must be good for me.

90 Days Post-LID

As of today, it's been 90 days since Vietnam logged in our paperwork. We hope to get THE CALL soon! No matter when it comes, we know it will be the perfect time for the us and the baby.

From the blog of another World Child family...some nice thoughts about the way we talk about adoption. Check it out here.

I hope you have a lovely, fabulous weekend. No big plans. But we do have tickets to a symphony concert Saturday night. I'm looking forward to that. I've got a little head cold so I want to take it easy and get plenty of sleep.

No sleep...but we survived

I left the station after midnight, hoping to get some sleep. I had been at work since 7AM. I was ready to hit the hay. But it wasn't to be. About 10 minutes after lights out, Brad called my cell phone to say a bad storm was headed my way. I flipped on the TV and things didn't look THAT bad. So, I waited and waited and decided to go back to bed. Before my head hit the pillow, the tornado sirens started. To make a long story short (too late), I slept about 3 hours last night. Brad came home at 10 this morning. He had a much longer "day" than I did. He's at home asleep right now. Within 24 hours of getting home from our Christmas visit, my R&R was completely undone when I had to fill-in for a sick staffer who normally does the morning shift. She's still sick and I'm running on empty most of the time trying to do her shift and all the normal madness of my daily grind. This latest round of bad weather and extra long work day only adds to the exhaustion. Enough complaining...

Thought you might enjoy seeing the website of a family preparing to travel to China to adopt an "older" child. She's a beautiful little girl and I hope this family gets to travel soon!

Time to pay the piper...

Well, it's time to pay for the beautiful weather we enjoyed this weekend. Temperatures that exceed 70 degrees in January pave the way for tornados. As I write, the sirens are screaming outside my office. Fun times. I'm safe here where there's a basement but I worry about our house and our kitties. I'm sure we'll be fine but it means a late evening at work for me and Brad...

What's wrong with Juno?

First, Juno is all the rage. It's getting TONS of great reviews and lots of positive hype...blah, blah, blah. So, my expectations going in were quite high. I really hoped I'd enjoy this quirky film. Wow, was I disappointed.

First, it's so contrived. The plot is believable: teen girl gets pregnant and decides to place the baby with a couple wanting to adopt. But the characters, the dialogue, and the emotions are so contrived. That's what makes the film seem hollow. If you like off-beat indie films that are authentic, try Lars and the Real Girl. With Lars, the plot is contrived BUT I'm willing to forgive it and go along for the ride because the emotions and the characters are REAL. That's why I love some sci fi movies/books. The plots are complete fiction but the emotions, etc are real and they have something meaningful to teach us about our world. What does Juno teach us? That teens get pregnant and it's not that big of a deal (excuse me?). That adoptive couples are complete flakes (EXCUSE me?). That after a teen gives birth to a baby and the baby gets adopted, everyone lives happily ever after (huh? We could only hope that things were so neat and tidy after children are adopted). So, it sends messages that I don't find true or authentic, in most cases (I mean, I'm sure there are a handful of adoptive couples who are complete flakes). I just wanted to say that this movie isn't as good as everyone says it is, in my opinion. And it's especially weird for adoptive parents. I mean, at one point, Juno's dad makes this comment about the prospective adoptive couple, "I'll go with you to make sure they're not baby-starved wing-nuts." Sheesh. Juno also asks the couple why they don't adopt from China: "I hear they're giving away babies like iPods. They shoot them out of those t-shirt guns like at ballgames." Riiiiiiight. So, go see it if you like...I hope you find something redeeming in the movie. As you know, I have a blast at the movies 99.9% of the time. This was that .1% when I didn't.

Getting close?

There was news this weekend of lots of CFC (babies matched to families) with our agency. I have to believe this means we're getting close! Of course, I feel like we've been saying this for months now. Ha! Whenever it happens, it will be the perfect time.

I hope all of you had a great weekend. We watched Ratatouille, the Pixar film. It was ok. We couldn't imagine kids really enjoying it very much. It wasn't as funny or as clever as the other Pixar films. I enjoyed the fact that it was set in Paris.

Coming soon...my rant on the film Juno.

Much Merriment

I'm glad everyone's gotten a good laugh from my dorky photo that Brad posted. Obviously, we had a fun time over Christmas. That photo was from Christmas morning...I'm proudly displaying some lounge pants my sister sent me from Thailand. Sweet!

Speaking of sister...She completed her first half-marathon last weekend!! I'm so very proud of her, having just completed my own first half-marathon in September. Not only did she finish with great time, she placed fourth in her age group! She rocks! You can see some great photos from the race on her blog.

Have a great weekend!

Pictures of NE Tenneessee

Missy Finally Got Some Pants that Fit Her

Happy New Year!!

Hope you had a lovely January 1. Any resolutions? Here are mine:

• Eat better. This means less meat, more veggies and fruit, less junk food.
• Drink better. This means ridding my life of aspartame. Goodbye to my beloved Diet Coke.
• Exercise more. While I have a set weekend workout routine, my weekdays leave something to be desired.
• Become a morning person. I've long hoped to become one of those people who wakes up early, enjoys a leisurely cup of joe, reads, maybe meditates. Ideally, I could make it to 6AM aerobics.
• Be more appreciative.
• Savor the pre-Zeke days. I know, I know. The time will fly by and he'll be here before we know it. It's hard to believe that now but I realize there will come a time this year when these "free-wheeling" days will be nothing but a memory. I'll soak it up while I can.
• Prepare our hearts and home for Zeke. We've already started this but it must continue so we can be completely ready for our precious little guy's arrival.

Choking Down Melon

I was at a bookstore this week, picked up a diet book and was a bit shocked by the content. It was promoting a vegan lifestyle (I couldn't do it) but it made some really interesting points about the stuff I eat everyday. Anyway, my take away from the three minutes spent skimming this slim volume is eat more fruit and veggies, reduce meat and dairy. Duh, right? Well, I started this morning with some fruit at Perkin's. I have tried to like cantelope and honeydew melon but I just don't. The taste almost makes me gag. Ditto for cucumbers, olives and asparagus. I've given these fruits and veggies a chance. I WANT to like them but if I eat them, I'm really having to choke them down. So, I choked down some melon this morning. It wasn't good but it wasn't as wretched as I thought it would be. I'll keep trying...

No adoption news. We hit the 90 day mark January 11. If we don't have any news by then, I'll call our case manager for an update. We'll be back home Monday. More blogging and maybe some photos then.

Merry Christmas!

We send you our love and wishes for a very Merry Christmas! We had a lovely trip to Tennessee and we're having fun seeing family here. Have a blessed Christmas wherever you are!

Attend the Tale

It's opening day for the film version of Sweeney Todd, starring the delicious Johnny Depp and the creepy Helena Bonham Carter. It's a screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim musical/operetta by director Tim Burton. Chalk it up to a random PBS special, but my sister and I were "fans" of Sweeney Todd when we were little. I think we just caught a song ("The Demon Barber of Fleet Street") on one of those PBS concert specials and became intrigued and amused by the name "Sweeney." We had no idea what the plot of the musical was (yikes!). I finally saw Sweeney Todd on stage this year and it was...well, long. So, I was glad to hear that they had cut a few numbers to trim the run-time of the film. Brad and I want to see the movie while we're on vacation but we suspect no one in our families will be up for it since it's kinda weird and artsy. I have however promised my brother that we will take him to see the new National Treasure movie. I hope my Dad will come with us for that one. (Maybe Mom will too!!)

We leave this afternoon and we're very excited to be heading out! No Zeke news. We will keep you posted! I will do my best to blog while we're away. Have a great weekend and a Merry Christmas!

Light into darkness

There's a lady who does monthly features for my radio station. She lives in a small, rural community in the hills. Some might say she has an accent but her voice sounds like home to me. She's one of the best storytellers I've ever met. She wrote a piece for Christmas that had me laughing and crying. The point was that this time of year is about bringing light into darkness. What a blessed thought. I hope your week has been filled with light, despite the sometimes dreary weather, the crowds at the mall and all that cooking you've still got to get done. Take a minute right now to breathe and let the light in...

Distractions

Christmas and the time away from work will be a welcome distraction from the wait. The time will pass quickly, as it always does when we're with family. We'll hit the 90 day mark on Jan. 11. Once we're back home after our vacation, we'll be a mere 10 days away. So, I really do feel like the match, referral, CFC (child for consideration) is really just around the corner...

Just around the corner,
There's a rainbow in the sky,
So let's have another cup of coffee,
And let's have another piece of pie!

(Bonus points to anyone who knows the song and better yet, a famous black and white movie that featured this tune.)

Cup O' Cheer

We're having our holiday party today at work. There will be loads to eat and drink...lots of fun! I've got to get some more Christmas cards in the mail! I'm always slow...

I hope your pre-Christmas week is a good one. We are just enjoying all the festivities with friends and counting the hours to when we leave for Kingsport! We're really looking forward to seeing everyone. Cheers!

Bust!

The snow storm was a bust but we did get a dusting...enough to look pretty blowing around Saturday afternoon. We had a lovely time with Greg and Laura Friday night. We missed having Misty and Joel along for our Macaroni Grill adventure. Tickets were scarce for I Am Legend so we settled on No Country for Old Men, the latest from the Cohen Brothers (the geniuses behind Fargo and O Brother Where Art Thou). Their latest offering is perhaps their best yet. It's the story about the love of money and the violent, mean things we do for money. There was plenty to be discussed at our post-movie Starbucks visit. In addition to covering a worthwhile topic and raising really important issues, the film is beautifully directed and acted. It also features one of the creepiest bad guys I think I've ever seen on film. The icing on the cake? The amazing ear that the Cohen Brothers have for regional dialects. Here, they perfectly capture west Texas. It's so similar to northeast Tennessee!!

With Christmas a week away (!), we don't really expect to get "the call" this week about Zeke. We think it will be sometime in January. While it's disappointing to not have a photo of his sweet face to pass around to family and friends at Christmastime, we are nonetheless sure that he's alive in Vietnam somewhere. We pray for him everyday. We wonder who is caring for him. We pray that God will comfort him when he cries. Please join with us over the holidays in thinking about and praying for our little guy. That's the best Christmas present you could give us.

Stop at Food City for a loaf of bread and a jug of milk...

Oh wait! Toto, we're not in Kingsport anymore! We're now under a heavy snow warning with up to 10 inches possible. Wowzers! We'll be stocking up at our version of Food City tonight so we don't starve tomorrow.

Party Hardy

Brad and I were asked to help plan the Chinese New Year party for our local adoption group. There's a big group of party planners who met at our friends' house Wednesday night to discuss the party. It's designed to give the China adoptees a chance to celebrate their culture. It's also got a Vietnam angle since the Vietnamese celebrate Tet at the same time as CNY. Brad's volunteered to take photos from past adoption group events and come up with a sweet slideshow highlighting the kids. And my job? Hire this kid to get the party started.

Snow, anyone?

Looks like it's going to snow tonight and all day tomorrow. That will be nice! On the agenda for tomorrow? Cleaning house, wrapping presents and snuggling up with Brad to watch three DVDs: A Mighty Heart (haven't seen it...not sure I want to because I'm not in the mood for sad films), The Namesake (highly recommend this one), and The Science of Sleep (a visually beautiful film from the director who brought you Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

On tap for tonight: Dinner chez Macaroni Grill and "I Am Legend" with Greg and Laura. Misty and Joel couldn't join us and we'll miss you guys!

For Sunday (I realize I'm going completely out of chronological order here): Missy sings and plays piano at the 9:30AM service in the sanctuary (we lovingly call this service "The Christmas Variety Show" because it's a hodge podge of different groups and soloists as well as really meaningful narrations). Sunday eve, we'll be at Brad's company Christmas party. That's always a fun time.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Welcome Tula Jane!!

I want to give a big hug to my bestest friend Katie who gave birth to daughter Tula Jane last month!! We are SO happy for Katie and Justin and can't wait to meet Tula ourselves! In my official role as Auntie Missy, I have given her a nickname already: Tula-Belle. Belle is French for beautiful and you can see just how beautiful she is by visiting Katie's blog.

(Pardon the delayed post on such a BIG announcement...but I didn't want to post anything here until Katie had a chance to do a post on her own blog.)

60 Days Post-LID

As of today, it's been 60 days since our paperwork was logged in by Vietnam. We had originally been told that we would get matched with a baby 30-60 days after getting logged in but that hasn't happened. It seems many families signed with our agency around the same time we did, making the wait a bit longer than expected. We've waited this long, a few more weeks won't hurt. Anyhoo, it's another milestone in a long list of milestones in our journey to become parents.

The ice storm has moved out of our area. My cold is getting better. I'm being super productive at work, checking off items from my long to-do list that must get completed before we leave for Christmas. It's a good feeling and it helps pass the time as we wait to see Zeke's sweet face for the first time!

On ice...

We have an ice storm in our area today. It's not as bad as the one last January but it's still a pain. I'm sick with a head cold to boot. Blah. On the positive side, I did file two ice storm stories for NPR this morning. Stay warm!

Holiday Survival Guide

If you ever wondered what couples struggling with infertility go through during the holiday season, check out this collection of articles from Resolve. I think you'll find it insightful and/or useful. Resolve is the national support organization for families facing infertility.

Have a wonderful weekend!

China Referrals

Another round of China referrals came out this week. Congrats to those families who got to see their China babes for the first time! Here's a blog with photos of their new baby and their older daughter also from China: http://www.malingerkam.blogspot.com/ Oh, how I love to look at these blogs and share in the joy!!

I hate to be a Debbie Downer but the number of dates covered by this latest round of referrals was quite low. China has referred babies to families with LIDs through December 14th, 2005. ARGH! When will they get through the 2006 LIDs (Greg and Laura!) and get around to us (April 23, 2007)? Who knows. On a positive note, we got news from the director of our China agency, Great Wall. She doesn't think the wait will reach four years. That's great news but I'm quite skeptical. I mean, it's a simple numbers game. You've got to look at the current rate of referrals and you see that unless there's a significant speed-up, we'll be lucky to travel in 2011 for Lily!! Double ARGH! I do believe it's all part of God's plan for our family and I take so much peace and comfort in that. After all, if we didn't have such a long wait ahead of us for Lily, we probably would not have considered adopting from Vietnam, since China was our first country choice. And this Vietnam adoption has already brought so much excitement and richness to our lives and we haven't even seen our baby yet! So, there are blessings in the journey, often unexpected ones. Any arbitrary turns here or there and we'd be someplace else. We would be different. (yes, that's a paraphrase of Under the Tuscan Sun) We're here for a purpose and we're just trying to enjoy the ride...

Brad and Missy's Tennessee Romance

When we arrived at Second City in Chicago, the usher seated us in the SAME SPOT we had the last time we came to the show. It's a table right up front...our knees were touching the edge of the stage. This is up close and personal theatre, people! As you might expect from a comedy/improv show, the audience gets involved. After intermission, the show resumed and one of the actors came over to me and Brad and asked us our names, what our friends like about us (ha!), what we do for a living, how we met, where we met. They then took the info and proceeded to act out "The Tennessee Romance of Missy and Brad" complete with a graphic on the projection screen that looked like the front of a cheesy harlequin romance novel! We laughed our heads off! "Missy" was practicing the piano while "Brad" was off getting a story about a little boy stuck in a well but alas, they meet and fall in love. It was so, so, so funny! The whole show, entitled The Pratfall of Civilization was really great. We especially liked the sketch featuring two NASCAR fans discussing the intricacies of US foreign policy...the one guy had perfected the northeast Tennessee version of the word "okay" and the phrase "I tell you what."

Another great moment from our trip: Venturing out in the snow and ice to get to Lou's for dinner. Lou Malnatti's deep dish pizza is legendary. And yes, it was worth risking life and limb to get there Saturday night! Brad walked over an icy subway grate and I thought he was going to fall for sure. But, we arrived sans incident. I was so cold on the walk to the restaurant however, that I refused to walk back to the hotel and asked Brad to get us a cab. He hailed a cab and it cost all of $8 (including tip!) to get back to the hotel from Lou's. We laughed about how that was the best $8 we had spent in a long time!

We stuffed ourselves on Garrett's popcorn. If you're unfamiliar with "the mix," it's cheese and carmel popcorn mixed together...a sweet and salty treat!

I felt bad but we ended up skipping out on our plans to attend the BIG Chicago church that pioneered contemporary worship. It was just so cold and yucky Sunday morning that we decided not to go. I'm sure we missed out on a blessing but I do feel that this whole trip was a blessing, an absolute gift. We're so thankful we had this opportunity. We had so much fun getting to spend time together without work. And then we went to the conference (which was "work" time for both of us), it was great to be there together. We are blessed in so many ways!

We now return to our regularly scheduled program

Sorry for the blog hiatus. We had a wonderful, fantastic, magical time in Chicago! A little work, a little snow, a lot of fun. It was just what we needed! I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend! We have many fun stories and photos to share. Once we decompress and get unpacked, we'll be back with more.

A little update on the adoption front...I emailed our case manager before we left. She said she didn't have a time line for us yet for when we would receive our match. Will definitely keep you posted as things progress...