Shopping ....

So we shopped today. First round, SAM'S CLUB! We had 3 carts FULL- two carts of day care stuff - and a cart for my parents. It's alway fun spending someone else's money! ;) Second round - PARTY CITY and FACTORY CARD & PARTY OUTLET. I didn't think finding Sweet 16 party ware would be so hard. I found lots of stuff for Angela's baby shower - but not a darn thing for Dawson's Sweet 16 party! Who would of thought that would be hard to find? Third round, (we're hungry now) DiBella's Subs .... very good!!!

BT went back to work - after a very long weekend (he used 3 vacation days). I feel bad we didn't get away, at least for a day. But on the flipside, we're taking a few days off in March - and I am determined to to a get-a-way! We've both been feeling so "snowbound".

So that was my Sunday -

I have a pile of paperwork sitting to the right of the keyboard, waiting for me to organize! I best get at it.

But first, just a thought...... perhaps this week we'll hear something from the adoption agency - how nice an "up-date" would be.....

I Truly Am A Blessed Woman....

I recently caught a portion of a program on "The Secret" ... and the little bit I heard was rather encouraging! Then, I read a post on a friend's blog - that really made me think. Deanna has the right idea and I need to jump on board with it. There should be no room for negativity in our lives! As hard as it may be, I also need to focus my energy on the positive things in life. I may not be where I want to be right now - but the only way to get there is to release the negative energies - and move on. Like my sis once said "the buck stops here".
I can't help but think if I can get my focus where it needs to be - I may have better days, with less headaches and stress. I truly believe stress can impact your health in a negative way.

Negative thoughts I need to do away with include:

Our house is too small.
I can't get pregnant.
The agency doesn't call.
My work is too stressful.
I hate BT's hours.
We don't make enough money.
I am sick of headaches.

Positive thoughts shall include:

We're blessed with a comfy, cozy home - perfect for a family of 3 (or 4) - and a decent mortgage.
God has a special calling for us - we're adopting!
God is taking His time to bring us a special baby designed perfectly for us!
I'm blessed with my own business, doing just what I love doing!
Brian has a great job - Let's just keep praying for a promotion for better hours!
Life is good- we both have our health.

WOW - just looking back at what I wrote does my heart and soul some good.

Thanks Deanna! ((((hug)))

Ok, so ...... it's Saturday and I had great intentions to clean the whole house. I did clean - but I only managed to do the 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room and dining room. I fought a migraine most of the day and took 2 naps. Oh, most of the laundry is done, too! Yipee!

BT is in Toronto, CA for the day. He went with Joe and the girls - to the Ontario Science Center. I am so glad he went and enjoyed his day off. He would not of been very happy hanging out with me and my headache. I'm really looking forward to hearing about the day - and hoping they took a lot of pics! I can only imagine how happy the girls had to be to have a day out with their dad and Uncle Bri.

This was a stressful week at work. I won't go into too many details -- for privacy reasons. But, we're aware of some staff issues that need to be dealt with. I don't understand - the other Director and myself are always kind, considerate, friendly, helpful, upbeat, etc... personally, I think we set a fine example. And yet, some of our staff are sooooo.....gloomy. Often I have to stop myself from making a comment such as "Try smiling, it won't crack your face"! When I went into business many years ago - people weren't that way. As we approach new generations, things really change. Anyhow, that's a lot of my stress. The good news is, we're aware of it and making changes for the better. I am confident it's nothing we do. The proof is in the number of employees who leave to go elsewhere and before I know it they are knocking on my door, ready to come back! That says something for us, right?

I am feeling the need to shop! But, we haven't been spending money..... perhaps my "feeling" will soon pass. Why is it shopping does the soul so much good?

We are His Sheep and He is Our Shepherd

We are His sheep and He is our Shepherd

You were on His heart. When He left His home in Heaven, He saw you; when He became a man on earth, He was seeking you; when He stretched out His hands upon the cross, He was reaching out to you; when He returned to His Father, He was preparing a place for you. You are the sheep He has come to shepherd, to guide, to feed, to protect, to shelter, and to carry you. You are the one He calls his own.

- Roy Lessin

Sweet 16

So today turned out to be a great day! I found out Sas & Jaxon are coming to spend 4 days with us next week. We're going to just "hang out" .... and throw a surprise SWEET 16 Y birthday party for our niece, Dawson. Hmmmm, got to start thinking of decorating and food ideas. I wanna get her a really sweet cake - lots of pink and flowers!!!

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My Best Cousin, Lisa called today! It's official - we're planning a 65th Birthday Party for the twins - August the 4th - in Kentucky! Her dad, and my mom are twins! It will be wonderful to see all the family again! :-)

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It's been 4 weeks since I've heard from the adoption agency! For some reason, today, I kept thinking we were going to hear from them. . even if to ask us a simple question.

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BT went to the funeral home tonight to pay his respects to a co-worker who passed away suddenly. I believe he said he was only 45 yrs old, leaving a wife and children. Soooo sad.

When he got back - we treated ourselves to RUBY TUESDAY'S - the broccoli/cheese soup was awesome!!!

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I felt better today - no abdominal pain!!! :-) That's a great thing!! That makes for a great day!!!

Chocolate Panda Paws Ice Cream

Ok - so I discovered the sure fix for PMS! :-) Thought I'd share my discovery with all the women out there!

(((((hug)))))

The Weekend .....

I finally figured out how to add music to my blog. The song I have chosen is "BLESSED" by Elton John. I am sure anyone who knows me, will know why this song is so near and dear to my heart! Y

The weekend is over! Time for a blog up-date.

I spoke to my friend - the friend who introduced me to "M", the gal who is considering placing her unborn child for adoption. She called 10 days ago and never called back. The message she left sounded very much like she had decided to make an adoption plan and place the baby in our arms. My friend was surprised to hear she had called. She told me "M" had recently accepted a hand-me-down crib - and there's even talk of a baby shower. My heart aches for her. I can not imagine making the decision she is going to have to make. I promised myself I would not get involved emotionally. I left her a message last week, so she knows she can call me. . . and I let go! We are not prepared to set ourselves up for something that could be another let down. And so, the "wait" goes on.......

The results of my endoscopy are in - everything was negative. Next step- upper GI. I am thrilled all the tests I've had so far (x-rays, ultrasounds, scans, etc) have all come back negative. But, how do I explain the pain that effects me daily? It is effecting my home life, my marriage, my job, every part of me.

BT, McKenna and I went to Niagara Falls Outlet Mall on Saturday! She was so good - and such a joy to have around. I bought .... nothing! McKenna cashed in her allowance at CLAIRES, girlie stuff! That was the highlight of my weekend.

Sadly - I was feeling horrible most of the weekend and just not up to much..... I can't wait to get better.

You'll Be Blessed - We Promise You That! :-)

Blessed
Music by Elton

Hey you, you're a child in my head

You haven't walked yet

Your first words have yet to be said

But I swear you'll be blessed

I know you're still just a dream

your eyes might be green

Or the bluest that I've ever seen

Anyway you'll be blessed

And you, you'll be blessed

You'll have the best

I promise you that

I'll pick a star from the sky

Pull your name from a hat

I promise you that, promise you that, promise you that

You'll be blessed

I need you before I'm too old

To have and to hold

To walk with you and watch you grow

And know that you're blessed

Tea Time

Can't wait to brew some tea tonight! :-) Thank you, Judy (((hug))))

The Story of the Tea Cup! There was a couple who used to go England to shop in a beautiful antique store. This trip was to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked, "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."As the lady handed it to them, the tea cup spoke."You don't understand," it said, "I have not always been a tea cup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'Don't do that. I don't like it! Let me alone,' but he only smiled,and gently said, 'Not yet!'"Then. WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it! I'm getting so dizzy! I'm going to be sick!', I screamed But the master only nodded and said, quietly, 'Not yet.'"He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then....then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. 'Help! Get me out of here!' I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, 'Not yet.'"When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'Oh, that felt so good! Ah, this is much better,' I thought.But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Oh, please; stop it, stop it!!' I cried. He only shook his head and said. 'Not yet!'"Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up."Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering, What's he going to do to me next? An hour later he handed me a mirror and said 'Look at yourself.' And I did. "I said, ' That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful I'm beautiful!'"Quietly he spoke: 'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'"God knows what He's doing in each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will. So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this:Brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down, and have a little talk with the Potter.

Time for a little exercise . .

Exercise is what I need to be doing. Why is it so easy to NOT do the things we need to do to keep our bodies healthy? Perhaps this cute little picture will help me remember, to get up and MOVE! :-)

It's time to begin my day - Have a good one! :-)

Happy Belated Valentine's Day, BT! :-)

BT bought me the sweetest Valentine.

It read:

Happy Valentine's Day to My Wife.....

Your love,

your faith in me,

your gentle understanding,

all make me realize how lucky I am

God brought you into my life ... I love you!

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord" Proverbs 18:22

Thank you, BT, for always pulling through - you're the best. And, I love you, too!

PS Don't ever give up, for we both know the best is yet to come. . . .

S T R E S S E D

This little picture is so me! STRESSED describes me so perfectly lately.

My job is stressing me out. I need to hire someone part time to assist me with paperwork, light office work, answering the phone and tending to visitors. But, I need to be able to trust this person wholeheartedly - with the business and the children! How do you hire a complete stranger for a delicate position such as this? I lucked out both times before by hiring from within. At this time, this is not an option. I keep praying God will open the doors.

The adoption is stressing me out! We've been waiting too long. Opportunities come along, tease us a bit and move on. I don't understand - probably never will. I just want to bring my babies home!

I must stop this post! Since I started typing it I ate about 10 hershey kisses! Augh.......

Well, they do say STRESSED spelled backwords = DESSERTS! ;)

Take a peek ....

We've collected quite a few baby socks throughout the wait ....

Gosh, I hope we can fill them soon!

3 Years and 4 Months

3 years and 4 mths .... since we attended the first information meeting at our adoption agency.

Some days I wish I knew more, more of what is actually happening with our profile. Have we been chosen? Perhaps chosen several times, and for whatever reason, plans changed? Perhaps we were never chosen? There were hints we'd been possibly chosen before, at least a birthmom showed an "interest".

A friend of mine has a friend whose 19 year old daughter is expecting a baby in April. She is considering making an adoption plan for the baby. She wants the baby to have a good life. I admire her for being able to look beyond her own self and love the baby enough to want what's best. She seems like a great girl - really sweet.

If she places, she'd like BT and I to adopt the baby. :o)

I should be really excited about this possibility - and I am. But, I feel sad for this young lady. My heart goes out to her. If she places with us, I hope we can maintain a good relationship. I have a good feeling we can. . . . . .

Miss Piggy, You're My Hero! ;)

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it.You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less.You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way.Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

The Muppet Personality Test

Look Da Da, A Leaf .....

Look Da Da a Leaf! This photo was taken of Jaxon and his mom a few months ago. It remains a favorite of mine! Sweet Jaxon - the baby of the family!! I miss him .......... I think it's time for a road trip!

He's beginning to use more words - his favorite being "BOB!" - he has discovered Bob the Builder and LOVES him!

Baby It's Cold Outside...

OK, so this is what it's like to live in Alaska! Temperatures as low as zero - with the weatherman saying "it feels like -15 degrees" ... more snow than we could possibly need - still coming down.
My nephew took some photos of their yard - I'll post a few .....




Schools were closed on Monday - not today - I have a suspicion they will close tomorrow. . .

Besides all the weather related surprises, life has been rather uneventful.
I had an endoscopy done on Monday - went much better than I had expected.
I should have the results within 2 weeks.

Today was Gail's birthday! I bought her the traditional chocolate cake, buttercream icing with extra flowers and filling from Wegmans .... and gift certificates for TH's ! She ended up with over $40 in gift certificates for TH's!

Time for some much needed sleep! This has got to be my most boring post ever! ha!

Good-night!