Bring on the New Year!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish my friends & family a wonderful, safe New Years celebration!

I wish for us all... PEACE...MUCH LOVE...HEALTH...HAPPINESS!

I hope it will be the year we meet our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend ~ Mia you are so much to so many people!

Mia, we are trying to wait patiently for you, little girl, but it is hard. I just know I love you already ~ kisses, Mommy!

HALF A WORLD AWAY
Half a world away, sometimes it seems we're so far apart.
But, half a world away, is not too far a journey of the heart.

My little one, my precious joy, I'm waiting for you.
My precious daughter, my little girl, I know you're waiting too.

A half a world away, a child waits for a family of her own.
While, a half a world away, a family waits to come bring her home.

My little one, my precious joy, I'm whispering a prayer.
My precious daugher, my little girl, I hope soon to be there.

A half a world away, so many months of waiting are past.
A half a world away, so many miles to bring you home at last.

My little one, my precious joy, you're finally home to stay.
My precious daughter, my little girl, we celebrate this day.

Knowing we will no longer be a half a world away...

*Just thinking about Mia, when we will get to meet, when the wait will be over ~ please, please let's see some referrals...

MY VERY FIRST INTERVIEW! PART II

We did, indeed, make the newspaper on Christmas Eve! There was a picture of a family already home with their little girl; and there were about 3 other families included in the article. I wasn't totatlly impressed - there were some "misprints" and comments I wasn't thrilled with ~ but it had a possitive feel to it.

Ed really didn't understand why I wanted to be interviewed - what good would it do, "why would I want to do this", he asked me. It took "a little" convincing and he never actually spoke to the reporter. I told him I was hoping it would touch someone to adopt from China or ... anywhere!

What I was hoping would come out of this article...actually did happen!!!! When Ed went back to work on Tuesday he was approached by someone who had read the article. He and his wife had been interested in adopting from China and wanted to know about our agency and some other info. I had Ed give him our email address, if they had any other questions. I just about cried when Ed told me - it feels soooo good to help in this way ! I'm happy we got involved and I actually think Ed is too :)

*Just spoke to Ed from work and he said yet another person approached him about the article. He and his wife have 2 sons and had been talking about adopting too. How... interesting :)

CHRISTMAS DAY!

Our morning started off with Eddie sleeping-in (he'd been up during the night with a croup cough!) and we let Anthony start on his gifts ~

Eddie woke up happy and joined in with Anthony opening all the gifts Santa brought! They were thrilled and in awe of all that Santa brought them!

Penny was hesitant to lay on her gift ~ she's still not sure of her bed, but the boys seem to like it (they lay on it more than she does!).

Grandma & Poppy came over to look at the gifts, eat and we all watched "Elf", one of my favorite movies. It was a nice relaxing day ~ hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

CHRISTMAS EVE ~

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PENNY THE RED-NOSED REINDEER!

Penny and her entire family would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2007 ~

*In this last picture Penny is saying "tell me when it's over"!

MY VERY FIRST INTERVIEW!

I received a phone call from my adoption agency today asking if I would mind being interviewed by a pretty well know newspaper (at least I read it everyday...)~ the subject being: Families in the financial industry adopting from China! Supposedly there are many families in this industry adopting from China and we will be among a few to be interviewed. The story is supposed to be a "happy, uplifting, end of the year" article ~

What could I say - "yes!"

My first interview went well. The reporter was very interested in our adoption, how we came to adopt from China and about the long process. He seemed pretty well informed and knew about the new regulations going into affect in 2007. It is kind of funny because he only spoke with me and for those of you who know me, you know I am not the one in the "financial industry"; he will talk to my more financial-half tomorrow ~ that should be very interesting! My husband is not the talkative type...stay tuned for Part II of Families in the financial industry adopting from China and Ed's one word answers!

*I hope and pray that this article will touch someone or encourage others to adopt from China. That would be just...great!

A VISIT WITH SANTA!

We're so excited!

Telling Santa their "secrets"

Yes, they've been very good boys!

Another successful Santa-meeting!

The boys were so excited ~ this was the day we would visit Santa! Thank goodness the line wasn't too bad and the line moved quickly. We were one person away from Santa when they broke the news ~ Santa had to take a break! We passed the time by looking at decorations, people watching, Eddie had to use the bathroom- I tried to hold him off, we talked with other families, yup- Eddie still had to use the bathroom ~ but, Anthony spotted Santa coming back!

Santa came on line and shook hands with all the kids and patted Eddie's head - how sweet! It was our turn and Eddie yells out "I have to do poo, poo!" ~ why did I want him potty-trainned?

It all worked out and he sat on Santa's lap as you can see above. They were SO happy and so was mommy. Oh, I hope they always believe...

(Eddie did use the potty in car - other drivers wanted our parking spot - they honked horns - some even gave thumbs up - some others gave dirty looks - but, Eddie took his good ole' time!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

GIRL'S GONE WILD!!

Yes, my friends and I are out of control ~ off to a local tea house for mini sandwiches, scones and petite fours! They had about 100 different varieties of teas (decaf & regular!); such as chocolate raspberry truffle (mine), chocolate coconut almond (Barb's), creme brule (Mich's) and Debbie also had a chocolate variety that escapes me at the moment! The teas where delicious and tasted like a dessert on their own!

The tea house was decorated beautifully for the holidays~ so quaint and cozy! We got to "catch up", talk about old times and just plain relax! What a great night spent with my oldest & dearest friends! I would love to take Mia here in the future...mother & daughter...or out with her aunts ~ what a nice daydream :)

CHRISTMAS COME EARLY ~

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Every year we celebrate the holidays with my dearest (and oldest) friends and their families. They tell me we've been doing this for 14 years! Can't be ~ I sometimes feel like I'm only 14! We always have a lot of laughs, good food and presents!!

*Just wanted to say, Barbara, Debbie and Michelle, I am so blessed to have had you all in my life for the past 26 years! (They know me so well and still stick around!)
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and I look forward to a fantastic 2007 ~ Love You Guys

Mia, Mia ~ so loved already!

Oh Mia, I wish you were here already...you continue to receive the most beautiful and thoughtful gifts! Grandma and Poppy brought over this ladybug and dragonfly lamp for your room! Aunt Debbie's grandmother (!) made this pink blanket to wrap you in and also a matching one for your crib! I will bring the smaller blanket to China when we go to bring you home... I can't wait to have you home Mia ~

OUR DOSSIER IS IN "TRANSLATION"!

Each month my adoption agency (GWCA) sends out an email letting everyone know where their dossier stands. We are moving right along ~ our dossier is being translated from English into Mandarin! It is another step closer to Mia!

How many pictures does it take to get a Christmas Card??

COOKIE EXCHANGE PARTY

I had the pleasure of hosting our neighborhood's annual cookie exchange party last night!

We had 12 attendees and everyone baked about a dozen cookies per person. We had so many delicious varieties; lindzer tarts, pinwheels, a few types of chocolate cookies, biscotti, butter cookies, secret santa cookie surprise, chocolate chips with nuts and berries, rugalah, peanut butter kiss and chocolate crumb bars (I think I named them all!).

After grabbing a cup of tea or coffee we loaded our plates with the cookies and started our "tasting". We all voted on the "yummiest cookie" and the winner is....for the 2nd year in a row....Melissa for the chocolate cookie crumb bar ~ yes, they were as good as the name!!

We enjoyed each others company, laughed and stuffed ourselves ~ what fun! At the end of the night everyone grabbed a big bag and took home 12 different (dozens) of cookies to enjoy throughout the holiday season!!

Thank you everyone for ALL of your hard work... I think our 2nd Annual Cookie Exchange was quite successful!

*With the depressing news in referrals from yesterday, this cookie party was a welcome diversion! P l e a s e let the next set of referrals be H U G E!!