A Very Bad Day

Meet my 2 1/2 year old super cute nephew, Jonathan. He has had a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad day! Yesterday, Jonathan fell off a swing and broke both bones in his right forarm. Several hours in the ER, a morphine drip and cast later, he went home to sleep it off. Today he goes to his pediatrician only to add step throat and a yeast infection to the mix! Needless to say, he's not feeling so great. Mister, I hope you're back to your old self really soon....hang in there!


Update: Don't know what happened to the picture- didn't he look pitiful? After 24hours of antibioitics, Jonathan was back to his old self. He gets a new cast tomorrow- one he can swim in!

Who will she pick?

OK folks, we are down to the last episode! On Monday, Jillian will give the final rose to someone...who will she pick? Cast your vote to the right. Voting closes 15 minutes before show time. I'm getting so excited!!!

Can't sleep

Well, it's after 1 am and I can't sleep. I really have nothing to blog about so you'll likely get some random thoughts.....I got a new video camera for my birthday and it takes picutres, too- hey, mabye the instruction book would help me fall asleep- anyway, I hope to be able to post pictures soon. I have LOVED the East Tennessee weather the past few days. Normally this time of year we are in a 90+ degree heat with humidity thick enough you have to swim through- we have had 3 beautiful low 80 degree days with no humidity.......my favorite!!! I'm beginning to think about preparing for (did you catch the procrastination?) my next 1/2 marathon that will be in December. I got an email that said the race is only 20 weeks away.......can you believe that?? Did I just hear Christmas music? Did you catch "The Men Tell All" tonight? Dave has 'restraining order' written all over him! Yikes! Sweet Mike Stagliano- wasn't he so sweet to Jillian? Did you hear Chris say Reid had a 'pior engagement'? Wonder if he shows up next week....hmmm. Glad to hear Jillian is still happy and can't wait to see how things end up next week. I'm headed to Destin with the family in a few weeks- anybody have a suggestion for a good book? I've realized I've gotten old when I look forward to sitting in the shade at the beach and reading a book. Sigh. I listen to the waves every night on the sound machine next to my bed. Sigh. Waves. Bed......going to give sleep another try......yawn....

Favorable Determination!

Yes, you can! I received my I-171 H: Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition! So glad to have this paper in hand- a must have before you travel. It means the US government has said, "It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan or orphans." Fantastic!!

Getting Through

The adoption wait gets very long and often discouraging. Thankfully, there are other families who travel and bring home their beautiful children. Watching their journeys, looking at their pictures, even hugging their new family member helps me to keep my eye on the ball. I am so thankful when others share parts of their journey and I look forward to the day when I will share mine. In the meantime, while I wait, videos like this one, remind me of why I filled out all the papers and why I continue to wait, however hard it may get. My friends, the Harpers, were on this same trip to pick up their son Will- it was a treat to see them in some of the pictures. Warning, have your tissues handy!

My friends, the Hamiltons, are in Ethiopia right now picking up their children. They will meet their children for the first time early Monday morning. Would you pray for them as they travel and for their new children as they begin a new journey.

Vogue Mama!!

Check out this article written by a fellow adoptive mom- her daughter is from Ethiopia, too. I love it!!

http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2009/06/madonna-and-child/?mbid=rss_feature

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Happy 4th of July! (yes, I'm a day late...if you know me, it's no big suprise!) On this day that we celebrate the Independence of our country, I am thankful for the freedoms that I enjoy every day. Prior to beginning this adoption process, I often took those opportunities for granted. As I recently waited to have my gall bladder taken out, I became very thankful that my child will grow up in a country where he or she will have access to quality health care. My baby won't die of a communicable disease or some illness that we get a cheap antibiotic for. My child will not die from a mosquito bite. My child, whether a boy or a girl, will receive a good education all the way through college. My child will never have to wonder if they will ever have a pair of shoes or question if the water they drink will make them sick. They will always have a bed to sleep on, plenty of food to eat, and clothes that fit. My child will be able to vote or pray or go to church without fear. My child can grow up to be the President of the United States, if he or she wants to! For children growing up in Africa, none of these things: medicine, doctors, school, shoes, clean water...are certain. Many people have asked me, "Why Africa?" This is part of the answer. Praise God for the freedom we enjoy; for the opportunities we have.

I've also been thinking about how much courage it takes to fully take hold of the freedoms and opportunities placed before us. It's easy to stay where we are. It's easy to stick to our routines. It's easy to hang out with folks who talk and eat and look like us. It's easy to turn our head to the injustices around us. It takes courage to step out of our 'box'. It takes courage to share what we enjoy with those who don't know such things exist. It takes courage to look across the street, or across town, or across the world to see what someone else's life is like. It takes courage to try to make a difference. It takes courage to be the home of the brave. "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel

So, on this July 4th, I'm am so excited for the day I'll bring my child home to America. I'm excited for him or her to catch the vision of free America and then be brave enough to share it. We have the opportunity to make a difference, both here and abroad...the question remains, will we have the courage to do it?