Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Cougars all the Way!
Well, the bracket is out and it is time for March Madness. Lately I never even watch a basketball game, college or pro, but when the tourney comes...I'm all over it. Of course I will pick Washington State Univ. to go all the way. I picked them last year and they were seeded a lot lower. I don't have any other picks yet because I just looked at the bracket for the first time, plus I have no clue who is good this year. I will probably let the boys do a bracket. We do it by mascots, they look at the match up of the mascots of the teams playing and pick who will win. You laugh, but they have had some pretty good picks.
Go Cougs!
Go Cougs!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
City Driving
I am a suburbia girl. Today I went to the U of MN for an international adoption conference alone. Ryan got the pleasure of taking 4 children to a play we had tickets for in Minneapolis. I drove right to the campus and parked with no problems, in a little less than a half hour.
When I left the parking garage it forced me out a different way than I had come in. I kind of still knew where I was and I thought I was doing well. My gut told me to take a left on a street, but I saw a sign up ahead that said 35W, the freeway I needed. I went for the sign, the on ramp was several blocks away and then it was for the north. I was in the area of the bridge collapse so I blame that for my getting lost, but it was really that I don't know the city at all. I just kept driving and turning not even knowing which direction I was going in. Finally I called Ryan and asked him to map quest where I was and how to get home. He was doing work and talking to his "boss" on the other line, but he looked up the area and told me what to do. I started driving in that direction and thought "it's okay I still have gas", then I noticed that the car was overheating. I pulled over and went into the back of an office building parking lot. I called Ryan again and started whining about everything that was going wrong. He patiently explained how to put coolant in the car (a problem he has been dealing with for a while with his car and I feel it is time to get it fixed!). He said he would come to me if I just told him where and I was and waited a half hour. I told him that I could do this and I would be fine. I put in the coolant, called him again for more directions and started off again. His directions were great and once I got back to the freeways I knew my way around. I left the U at 3pm and got home at 4:30.
I am thankful for a patient, calm husband. That Minneapolis is a safe city. That is was daylight and not snowing. That I have a cell phone.
Rachel, I should have carpooled.
When I left the parking garage it forced me out a different way than I had come in. I kind of still knew where I was and I thought I was doing well. My gut told me to take a left on a street, but I saw a sign up ahead that said 35W, the freeway I needed. I went for the sign, the on ramp was several blocks away and then it was for the north. I was in the area of the bridge collapse so I blame that for my getting lost, but it was really that I don't know the city at all. I just kept driving and turning not even knowing which direction I was going in. Finally I called Ryan and asked him to map quest where I was and how to get home. He was doing work and talking to his "boss" on the other line, but he looked up the area and told me what to do. I started driving in that direction and thought "it's okay I still have gas", then I noticed that the car was overheating. I pulled over and went into the back of an office building parking lot. I called Ryan again and started whining about everything that was going wrong. He patiently explained how to put coolant in the car (a problem he has been dealing with for a while with his car and I feel it is time to get it fixed!). He said he would come to me if I just told him where and I was and waited a half hour. I told him that I could do this and I would be fine. I put in the coolant, called him again for more directions and started off again. His directions were great and once I got back to the freeways I knew my way around. I left the U at 3pm and got home at 4:30.
I am thankful for a patient, calm husband. That Minneapolis is a safe city. That is was daylight and not snowing. That I have a cell phone.
Rachel, I should have carpooled.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The reason we chose to adopt
I saw this on someone else's blog and I just had to steal it (Thanks Jenny). I haven't really written a statement as to "why" we have chosen to adopt, but I think this sums up our feelings pretty well.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF ...
1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.
3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.
7. You've been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)
8. You'd no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)
9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.
10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.
11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!
13. You've welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
14. You shudder when people say your child's so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you're the blessed one to have him or her in your life.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF ...
1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.
3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.
7. You've been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)
8. You'd no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)
9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.
10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.
11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!
13. You've welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
14. You shudder when people say your child's so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you're the blessed one to have him or her in your life.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Epilepsy Stroll
Oliver is in the green, his two siblings and our boys (and of course Daisy).Thank you to all of you that have donated to the walk Lance is doing. I just wanted to give a little update on Oliver these days. Even though he is not officially part of our family, Lance spends a lot of time with him and he is over at our house quite a bit. Sometimes kids at school (not in their class) think that I'm the mom of Oliver's family, not Lance's.
Anyway, Oliver has been having a hard time these past couple of weeks. In the past 7 days he has had 4 seizures at school, I don't know how many others he has had lately. Today Lance said he had two in class. My heart just aches to help this child and we are so helpless. If you could say a prayer for Oliver that would be wonderful and if you haven't donated yet that would help also. I wish we had more to give because this kid is so great and I'm sure there are a lot more like him that need our help also.
Thank you.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Bed and Breakfast Havens
We have been married for almost 12 years now. We didn't have a honeymoon so we treat ourselves to a Bed and Breakfast every year for our anniversary. I usually book it in Jan. or Feb. for May and it helps me get through the winter. Well, this year due to budget constraints we aren't able to go to on our annual B&B trip. However, just because we aren't going doesn't mean you can't go. I have included websites of some of the ones we have visited over the years. You can take either a virtual tour or you can book your own. If you don't live in the area my friend's site can help you find a good one for you.
Last year we went to a B&B in Iowa. The website isn't much, but it is really nice and the town is great. The one in Wisconsin the year before wasn't what we expected, but it had a drop dead breakfast. This one in Duluth is our all time favorite. We love the city, the rooms, the food (they have cookies available all of the time). This one has mixed reviews. I liked the area, the rooms, but hated the food. The food is very important to me if you haven't noticed. This was our first one, we liked it at the time, but now we expect more from a B&B. This was an early one also, but we liked it and it was good for the money. Nice town also.
There have been others, but a few have gone out of business. I hope you have the chance to get out and visit your local B&B. I do have one rule that I follow for picking a B&B, they must serve us breakfast in our room because I don't want to get up early and get ready for the day to eat with strangers.
Last year we went to a B&B in Iowa. The website isn't much, but it is really nice and the town is great. The one in Wisconsin the year before wasn't what we expected, but it had a drop dead breakfast. This one in Duluth is our all time favorite. We love the city, the rooms, the food (they have cookies available all of the time). This one has mixed reviews. I liked the area, the rooms, but hated the food. The food is very important to me if you haven't noticed. This was our first one, we liked it at the time, but now we expect more from a B&B. This was an early one also, but we liked it and it was good for the money. Nice town also.
There have been others, but a few have gone out of business. I hope you have the chance to get out and visit your local B&B. I do have one rule that I follow for picking a B&B, they must serve us breakfast in our room because I don't want to get up early and get ready for the day to eat with strangers.
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