10 months ago!

10 months ago, we had just been approved by the Vietnam program at our agency. A little over 4 months later, we finished our homestudy, received our long-anticipated 171-H and were added to the waiting list at #159, since then we moved down almost 50 spots to #111. That list though includes everyone who is waiting for a child from Vietnam, regardless of age, sex, or health. Two more referrals were received last week, both of which were for infant girls. It is good to see some infant girls, but there actually have been quite a few infant girls in the past month and a half or so and I would really like to see some boys being referred, so we can move some more on the list for those waiting for a boy; it seems as if we have been sitting at #70 for awhile now. I would really like to see the 60s soon.

We also have finally had our first couple nights of frost; it looks like we might be frost-free tonight, but being almost November that won't last much longer. We have been pretty lucky as far as temperatures go.

Only in Wisconsin

We returned from our little trip up north. Although it was a quick trip, it was great to get away and relax. The ride up there was kind of gray and dreary. We hit little pockets of rain, but nothing much. At least, it wasn't snow though. During the day, it was in the upper 50s-lower 60s. Saturday was sunny and very nice fall weather for our drive up to the Marquette to watch the football rivalry between Northern Michigan University and Michigan Technical University. The fall foliage was at its best up in the U.P. Most of the ride up to Marquette was spent just looking out the window at the gorgeous autumn colors (no reading for me). On the way home was another story, reading and napping was how I spent most of my time on the return trip. Of course, I always forget to take something when I travel and this time was no exception. After having reminded Kevin several times to bring his swimsuit for the indoor pool and whirlpool at the motel. Guess who forgot hers? Also, I forgot any short sleeve t-shirts; luckily Kevin had one that I could sleep in, because wearing a sweatshirt would be to warm and restrictive. Not having a t-shirt also posed the problem of me being extremely hot once we got to very southern Wisconsin/Illinois on Sunday, where the temps were over 70 degrees. Oh, for the reasoning behind the title of this blog entry, while we were driving home, we stopped for lunch somewhere near Fon du Lac, WI. I really wasn't that hungry, but Kevin got the breakfast buffet that they were still serving and where else but in Wisconsin would one find sauerkraut on the breakfast buffet table. Sauerkraut is not the most pleasant smelling stuff at any time of day, but when one is having breakfast, even if it is in the early afternoon, sauerkraut is not what you really want to smell or at least I don't.



Well to end this, I will add several photos of the wonderful autumn colors that we enjoyed.

Headed to Yooperland!

Yes, Kevin and I will be heading up to the good old U.P. tomorrow to see his dad and brother. I took a couple days off this week, as well as Monday. It'll be a short visit, but it will be nice to get away. At least Kevin was able to get tomorrow off, so we will be able to head up early and avoid heavy traffic. There's suppose to be construction by Milwaukee, so that may be the only place we get slowed down.

Last Saturday, our agency had a speaker talking about attachment, which was interesting and informative. Then we headed over to my parents or I did while Kevin went to a high school football game. We then all went out to eat at Red Lobster, which is probably one of my favorite places to eat. I just love their Mushrooms, Cheddar Bay Biscuits and Shrimp Scampi; probably not very healthy, but oh so.

I just checked my e-mail and was sent the weekly update by another PAP (pre-adoptive parent). Unfortunately, there were no new referrals received, but there were 4 families who left for Vietnam today and there will be 3 more on Monday. I pray there will be some more referrals next week, so we can keep moving up the list, as well as everyone else.

Looking forward to a couple days of pure relaxation, even if the weather will probably be downright chilly up there. Today, the weather was gorgeous, in the 70s. Just a few days ago, it was so cold, but we have not yet had a frost, so I'm not sure if this is Indian summer or if we will be blessed with some more warm weather again. I won't get to check my blogs or e-mail, but that will have to wait until Sunday when we return.

More Referrals and Another Orphanage

Our agency got 4 referrals this week: 2 healthy infant males 4 1/2 months and 2 1/2 months and 2 waiting children: an infant girl and a toddler boy. This moves us 4 and 3 places, respectively down the list to 113 overall and #70 for those open to a boy.

In other agency newss, our agency is now working with another orphanage and in the future, they hope to work with additional agencies. Hopefully, the more orphanages that we work with the more babies and children will be reffered and the more the waiting list will go down. This orphanage is a very large, but has mainly handicapped children, but about 10% are healthy. Of course, there are other agencies who work with this orphanage. But with 6 other orphanages and hopefully a few others added in the future, hopefully we will start moving down the waiting list quicker than we have been.

Lastly. there will be 7 families traveling in October around next weekend, so that will be exciting; so far I have one of the families' websites.

One more post, tonight before I head to bed

Calif. bans smoking in cars with kids
By STEVE LAWRENCE, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 11, 6:04 AM ET

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California motorists will risk fines of up to $100 next year if they are caught smoking in cars with minors, making their state the third to protect children in vehicles from secondhand smoke.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday signed a bill that will make it an infraction to smoke in a vehicle if someone under age 18 is present. But the traffic stop would have to be made for another offense, such as speeding or an illegal turn, before the driver could be cited for smoking.

The ban, which takes effect Jan. 1, joins a string of smoking prohibitions adopted in California, including a ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces and within 25 feet of a playground.

A Harvard School of Public Health report issued last year said secondhand smoke in cars can be up to 10 times more of a health risk than secondhand smoke in a home.

"Protecting the health of our children is among government's highest responsibilities," said the bill's author, state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Democrat. "It is clear that increasing public awareness about the dangers of secondhand smoke is the right thing to do."

At least 20 states and a number of municipalities have considered limiting smoking in cars where minors are present. Arkansas now bans smoking in cars with children age 6 and younger, while Louisiana has limited it when children 13 and younger are in the vehicle. Maine lawmakers will take up the issue in January.

How Has God Provided Financially for your Adoption;

Our adoption agency posted on their blog a post called How Has God Provided Financially for your Adoption; you could say this kind of applies to what we have been studyiong and talking about in our small group. Not adoption per se, but how god has provided financially in our lives over all.

Can you believe 4 posts in just over 24 hours??!!??

Impossible Question of the Day

Question: According to a recent survey, just over 20% of people have seen their neighbor do this. What is it?

Answer: Get the newspaper in their underwear.

Now this is kind of disturbing. Hopefully, these neighbors get their paper on their doorstep, because I know in our neighborhood, the newspaper is at the end of your driveway. I definitely wouldn't want to see any of our neighbors in their skivvies and definitely don't want to know if they wear boxer, briefs, or even thongs, god forbid!

45 Degrees

With these cold temperatures, some more pictures of flowers from my mom's gardens are in store to remind us of the warmer days that we had, even just a few days ago.

Autumn is Really Here!

Brrr! It is finally getting cold. Just a few days ago , we were in the upper 80s and low nineties and today, we did not even hit 60. In fact, it is about 47 degrees outside as I type this. This weekend, I even resorted to putting the air conditioning on, which I haven't done in a few weeks. The temperature inside is lower than it has been with the air on. Usually, in the summer, we keep it at 72 or warmer and right now it is in the mid 60s at the warmest. I just can't rationalize putting the heat on, yet. But another couple days like this or colder, I most likely will.



I can't believe I have been such a bad blogger. I keep up with other blogs fairly well, although not as well as I had been several months ago. I think it may partly have to do with how much more typing I have been having to do at work. I just don't feel like typing all night, like I've been doing for most of the day. Now if I was a 60, 70, 80, or more word a minute, typist like the legal secretary at my office, but I'm far from that. But regardless, there also hasn't been that much happening this past week adoption-wise. The update from our agency reported that seven families brought their little ones home from Vietnam this week, as well as 7 other families getting news of traveling later this month; no referrals were received, but they hope to receive more soon!



Last week, we started our church's small group fellowships. This is the first year we joined a group and we are really enjoying them. There are 5 couples in our group including us and we are all in our 30s and 40s. For these first 6 weeks, all small groups are studying A 40 Days Spiritual Journey to a more Generous Life. Since when I was a child growing up, my parents never attended church, it should be very informative and enlightening.



I'll end this entry with a few pictures from my mom's garden. I took these few weeks ago and with the weather the past couple days and the weather continuing to be the same, these will probably be the last pictures I get to take for this year.











I'll try to post some more later on!

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics

This is great. You have to take a few minutes and listen to this! I promise you'll ROTFL!