Disney Part 1

It seems like just yesterday we were in Florida. We arrived in Orlando late Friday evening. We went to baggage claim & got our bag (we checked one & carried on one) then we headed to catch the Disney Magical Express! We boarded the bus & headed to our hotel. We stayed at Disney's Port Orleans- Riverside. Since it was midnight when we got there, we checked in & headed to our room.



We stayed in the Magnolia Bend area of the hotel. This is the building our room was in! The buildings in the Magnolia Bend section looked like southern plantations.






Our room was pretty nice. I liked the Mickey Mouse made of towels that was on the bed!

It was off to bed for us. We had a busy day ahead of us.

I'm here

This is for Kristi's (http://lotsoflovetogive.blogspot.com/) mom!!! Yes, I'm still around. A lot has been going on here. Let's see.... in the past month, we chose to been presented to one special needs situation & one other situation that was with an agency our agency was working with. Unfortunately, we were not chosen for either of them. I know that we were seen by other birthmoms as well since our agency allows birthparents to look at all profiles. We decided to redo our profile again!! Our agency works with a woman who helps people with their profiles. After talking about it a lot, Paul & I have decided to use her services. We will basically do a rough redo our profile & birthparent letter & send it off to her. She will go through it & suggest changes that should be made. We had been putting off using her but have come to the realization that her consulting services could be very valuable to us. Her company is Adoption Ink, LLC. My hope is that this will be the kick start we need to become parents.

We were in Florida last week for a much needed vacation. We spent the week at Disney World. I'll tell you all about that in future posts!!

My week

Since we have been waiting for over 2 years to be matched with a birth family, my updates have become much more infrequent. I apologize for that. I don't want to keep putting up the same thing.

Last week was a busy week here. I subbed on Monday in Early Childhood Special Ed preschool. I LOVED it. That is the only place that I will sub. The kids are just so wonderful. In fact, the teacher requests me when she needs a sub!!! Wednesday, our new washer & dryer were delivered!!! I love them. I think I have been doing a load every day. I've washed blankets, coats, quilts & of course, clothes. Thursday, my new vacuum was delivered. I do a lot of surveys & often get rewarded with points. I cashed in some points for the vacuum. I feel that we now have the cleanest floors & the cleanest clothes in the neighborhood. Last week, we also bought some of the wainscoting for our familyroom. It's nice to have that part started because that's really the only thing we have left to do in there. I started making new curtains for the familyroom. I want to finish them by Thursday. It's been cold this week I think I'll make some scones or cookies today. Yum!

R.I.P crappy dryer

When we bought our house in 2005, the previous owner left the washer & dryer. They weren't what we really wanted but at least we didn't have to spend the money on new ones. The dryer started to take longer & longer & l o n g e r to dry. We even had the heating element replaced once. The dryer died on Monday. : ) I had washed & dried one load and had the second load in the dryer. I started to smell something burning. Not a good sign. I opened the dryer & in the back of it where the vent is was bright red! I didn't dare continue with that load. When Paul came home I had him check it out. Within seconds of him turning it on, the smell came back & the back was bright red again. The dryer was done. I had a load that needed to finish drying & another load in the washer. Thank goodness that my parents live 2 miles away. I finished up my couple of loads there. The next day, I went back to do 2 more loads. Today, I went there again & did 2 more loads. It's really a hassle to not have your own washer & dryer. Last night we went to Home Depot & we ordered our new washer & dryer!!! I cannot wait until Wednesday when they come. The nearest HD store is 30 miles away but they have free delivery & free take away of old appliances. We got front loaders and I can't wait to do laundry!!

Since we moved in, we have had a refrigerator go out in the first year, the dishwasher died a year ago but hasn't been replaced yet & now the dryer. (The stove isn't the best. so after the dishwasher I hoping for a new stove!) I guess we need to win the lottery!!!

I'm still here!

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in forever. I just needed some time away from this. I got tired of always posting the same thing- no news, here are the new numbers... My guess is that you all got tired of reading the same thing also!

So, what has been going on...well, we passed the 2 year mark for waiting on July 17th. It was a tough day for me. That night I told Paul that I had accepted the fact that I would never be pregnant & I was ok with that, but, those feelings of wanting to be pg would always be there. The next night I had my 20 year high school reunion (am I really that old?) I was hesitant to go but I'm glad we did. It was great to see some of my classmates who I hadn't seen in 10 or 20 years.

Having passed the 2 year mark, we have decided to look at other options for us to become parents. We are looking into other agencies but many of them have such high fees. I don't understand how the fees can be so different. Why do some agencies charge so much?? In regards to the other options, we were presented with an opportunity that we are seriously considering. I can't say much about it right now other than it's a gift beyond anything we ever imagined. We will probably know more about that one in a month or so. Please send up some prayers for us on that one!

School will be starting here the day after Labor Day. It's hard to believe that summer is almost over! Paul has been back to work at school since the beginning of the month. Oh, the joys of an administrator! I have been enjoying my time at home. Some people ask me if I get bored being at home. The answer is no! I love it! I did renew my subbing license so I'll be doing that again this year. I do my subbing in a preschool special ed program. It's so much fun!

We are almost done with our family room. It has been a work in progress for a year & a half. Paul has done almost all of it by himself. At least it has been livable during all of this! I need to make the curtains that I hope to do this week.

That's what's been going on with us. We didn't do a whole lot this summer. We did take a few day trips and we spent time at the lake. We pretty much stayed home. It's been kind of nice.

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know its true

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

Paul took this picture of a turkey from inside the house. How cool is it that we get to see this outside our house?

Look around you and see where you can see God's fingerprints!

To join in,
1. blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.
2. add your link at http://pamperingbeki.blogspot.com/2009/06/fingerprint-friday_25.html.

Fingerprint Friday

I have wanted to join in Fingerprint Friday for a while now. I hope to keep it up but I can't be sure. I guess you'll just have to keep checking!

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know its true

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?



This is one of the first pictures that I took when I got my camera. I love how you can see the lines in the leaves and how bright the colors are. The flower looks so soft.


Look around you and see where you can see God's fingerprints!

To join in,
1. blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.
2. add your link at http://pamperingbeki.blogspot.com/2009/06/fingerprint-friday_25.html.

New numbers

Just a quick post on the new numbers. There are 40 families in the waiting family book and 5 birth families in selection. We have a one in 8 chance of being chosen. I still think those numbers are pretty good. I remember when there were 60 families in the book! We have to be chosen soon, don't you think??? I don't think the wait gets any easier but maybe my expectations aren't there any more. As often as I think that it will happen when God finds the right child for us, it's still hard and I get down about it. Does anyone know where our baby is???

Urgent message

I get emails from the magazine Adoptive Families. I got this one last week. I have their permission to reprint it on my blog. Please consider taking action.

Dear Readers, There is a horror film being released on July 24, called Orphan, about a family who adopts an older girl who "is not what she appears to be." The film is currently being promoted, and the trailer is available at http://orphan-movie.warnerbros.com . The adoption message is extremely negative, and plays into the stereotypes of adopted children, particularly older children, as damaged. Though we have not been able to preview the entire movie, the trailer leads us to believe the movie will send a horrific message about adoption. The adoption community is protesting the release of the film. We urge you to contact the makers of the film, as well as your local movie theater chains, with your concerns. Feel free to copy or adapt the sample letter below. To whom it may concern: I want to express my outrage about the release of the movie Orphan. The film plays into the stereotype of adopted children as damaged and dangerous. It discourages families from pursuing adoption, particularly adoption of older children, who are especially in need of loving homes. As an adoptive parent, I am horrified by the line in the trailer that "it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own." Adoption has often been misrepresented in the media, but the previews for this film are unbelievably offensive. I urge you to change the promotional materials, and to consider holding the release of the film altogether. Contact information: Warner Bros. 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 818-954-6000 Silver Pictures 4000 Warner Blvd. 90 Burbank, CA 91522-0001 818-954-4490 Time Warner Inc. One Time Warner Center New York, NY 10019-8016 212-484-8000

New Numbers!!!!!! : )

The new numbers for our agency are up. They look really good. We have a one in seven chance.


LATEST NUMBERS

Total numbers as of May 14, 2009

Number of placements since January 1st: 26
Book placements = 14
Designated placements =12

Number of Families in the Book = 43 Total

Number of current matches = 5
Book matches =1
Designated matches = 4

Number of birth parents in family selection = 6

Number of reclaims = 2
(Birth Parent(s) changed mind after child entered adoptive home)

Number of change of hearts = 2
(Birth Parent(s) changed mind after match but before child entered adoptive home)