Let's see...what's going on...

It's been a few months since I last logged in and posted. What's happened... where to start, where to start. Thanksgiving found us in Tampa this year. We celebrated with my mom, step-dad, sister, the Boog (a.k.a. Devon) and my step-dad's daughter, her husband and their new baby. Nothing out of the ordinary really. It was nice.

December found us scrambling to make it to the winter vacation, or maybe that was just me! Those of you who keep close contact know that this year has been one of the toughest of my career. I spend all day trying to sell something that no one is interested in! That's hard.

We celebrated Christmas eve with Paul's mother and brothers. We missed his sister this year but she was working and being gainfully employed is super! We ate, exchanged stocking stuffers and headed to church for the 7:30 service. We used to go to the 11:00, but all of us used to be younger, too! Paul and I then headed down to Tampa so that we could be at my mother's on Christmas morning to watch the Boog open her presents and revel in the delightful treasures that Santa (who she doesn't even know) left for her under the tree. She was overwhelmed as usual and the whole experience left me thinking, "how in the world do you top that?" I fear we've set some dangerous precedents with this kid and Christmas. We all received a fabulous Christmas present this year. My mother's sister, my aunt Cheryl Ann, was able to join us this year. We were so glad to see her. She's been gone TOOOO long and hopefully will be making her way back to Florida, for good, soon! We miss her.

New Year's eve found us at Paul's father and step-mother's house. This is always a fun time. We gnosh on delicious goodies, laugh, and exchange gifts via a Chinese gift auction. It's so much fun to see what each package contains and who will end up with what at the end of the evening. I like to think that I got the best gift this year: A CLAPPER! Ohh.. .this is a sweet little gadget and I have joked about wanting/needing one for years and this year I scored! OOh.. what's that... too tired to roll over and turn out that light? No problem... clap on...clap off... the clapper!! I'm a simple woman really, with simple needs and who delights in simple pleasures. HAHA!

So now we're back in the swing of things at school. We've been back for one full week and this week is mid-term week. I'll spend my time preparing, administering and grading exams. Oh what fun and joy! The good news is that we will have a long weekend vacation coming up. We get Monday, Jan 18th off and Tuesday, Jan 19th is a teacher duty day. Should be most excellent.

And now for what you've been reading all of the previous drivel for... our agency released news that referrals for 3 babies were received on December 28th. This round of referrals finishes out the the dossiers logged in in March 2006. The next expected group was logged in April 6, 2006. The wait time still increases by one to 1 1/2 months each month, and the average now is 44-45 months. Who knows what that really means for us but by gum they are finished processing March referrals finally! Stay tuned for more as it becomes available.

Of Christmas letters and garage sales

A few weeks ago I was shopping at our local Target when I rounded a corner and ran smack dab into a Christmas/Halloween display. I was on the phone with my sister and I remarked to her that at that precise moment my head literally imploded! While it was very disconcerting and I was even a little perturbed by the blatant commercialization of Christmas it did not stop me from buying my Christmas cards that night! I had to hold myself back and refrain from getting them ready to go that evening. So, as I sit here and contemplate getting my mailing list together and questioning how soon is too soon to send the cards I am also considering the inclusion of a Christmas letter. I think I may have done one before but I've always been a bit 'put off' by the letter writing process. I've just never seen us as Christmas letter people. Of course Paul could not care less and therefore he is no help. The question remains... letter or no letter. The internal debate continues.

To quote Monty Python, now for something completely different...

We had a garage sale yesterday. Let me preface this bit with the following statement: I LOATHE garage sales. I do not like other people picking over my junk and passing judgement on it. Now, you can tell me all day long that isn't the case, but you and I both know it is. People drive by and cast their disapproving stares in the direction of your former treasure turned junk. My in-laws joined us for the day and it was really nice.

We were following the advice of Dave Ramsey to sell everything...sell so much that the kids begin to think they're next! So we unloaded about 15 years worth of junk (hey, it's mine and I can call it junk!). It was a really successful day. We'll be sending a pretty respectable check off to American Express. We're on a course, slow moving as it may be, to retire all of our debt in the next 2 years. If there's one thing Paul and I are good at it's been eliminating debt and then recreating it! We're shooting for the elimination but not the recreation this time around.

It's been a conscious effort on our part to be better with money, both in how we handle it and how we think about it, so that we don't pass on any toxic money habits to our child. For my part, it's been about confronting the issues and dealing with them rather than hiding and fighting the urge to vomit when the subject comes up. I grew up in a house that was miserable when Dad would get out the adding machine and spreadsheet. Yes, a real adding machine and an old-fashioned spreadsheet, my father was a CPA. For as smart as my Dad was, and he was brilliant, he wasn't great with our family finances. Every bill paying session was one that found us on the brink of broke, or at least that is what he communicated to us, sometimes subtley and sometimes verbatim. So to say that I have money anxiety is a terrible understatement. I'm working on it though. The course we began, Financial Peace University, has been helpful in a lot of ways and off putting for me in others. I'm INTENSELY private about financial matters. I find it uncomfortable to discuss money with others, especially strangers, and while there's no real pressure to discuss your money in the class it was still very uncomfortable. Overall it's been an elightening program even though our attendance has been what you might call great. We have learned some valuable skills, however.

In addition to trying not to send Christmas cards too early I'm also trying to delay putting up our Christmas trees. I'm actually feeling like decorating this year, and I figure I should strike while the iron is hot considering for a few years we didn't even put up a tree at all. I've been thinking, which is always dangerous, that this really might be our last childless Christmas. I don't like to get my hopes up too high but it just might be it. Our wait will be 39 months tomorrow. We could be getting a call some time in April or May of 2010, dare I even think it.

So, until the next post...

Lisa

A much needed change and 38 months of the same...

It's a BEAUTIFUL day in this steambath known as Florida. It's cool. There's a nice breeze. I got up this morning at 6:30 (on Saturday, no less) and opened all the windows in the house. It was still dark outside but my windows were wide open, much to my thin-blooded husband's dismay! We rented a steam cleaner and while I sit here and type this, Paul is cleaning our carpet. We're trying to prolong the life of the already 10 year old "stain resistant" berber. I figure we have until the first of the year until I can't stand looking at it any longer!

I was inspired by this beautiful day to do some much needed yucky tasks. I scrubbed our back french doors and the screen doors. Man, people who have come to visit have been awfully nice and haven't said anything about how filthy those doors were! Thank you. The dog got a nice visit to the groomers today. She was in need of a spa day. She's all pretty for her long weekend at her Nanny's.

Paul and I leave for Cedar Key on Thursday afternoon. We're going to spend the weekend there in celebration (although a weekend early) of our 15th wedding anniversary. We're really looking forward to this trip because we've never been when the weather was cool. This weekend is the big Cedar Key Seafood and Art festival so the place will be overrun with tourists. We've been told that next weekend the place is a ghost town. Just the way we like it! Hopefully we'll get some birding in and some nice long walks. I can't adequately express how much I need a mini-vacay from the job.

I talked to my niece today, well I talked and she listened really, but I miss that little booger. She's growing up so fast and I can't believe she'll be 3 in March. Our baby (yes, Kim, I said OUR baby ;) ) is almost 3... pretty soon she'll be going to college (Harvard, don't you know). I suppose that the only really good thing about this adoption taking so long is that Devon will be available for babysitting by the time our EG gets here! And I'm only partly kidding there, folks! Our adoption agency received referrals for 9 healthy babies ranging from 7-21 months this week. The families who received these referrals were logged in to the CCAA March 26 of 2006. Do the math (mainly because math was never my strong suit) and you'll figure out that we won't be hearing anything until March/April of 2010, which we knew but it still stinks. So, that's the update. The news from the front, if you will, and really what choice do you have reading this from wherever you are reading it... :)

Thanks for stopping in and I look forwarding to chatting with you all real soon.

Lisa

Happy Birthday, Paul!

Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is Paul's 4oth birthday. Can you believe it? Paul is 40! It's hard to imagine that it's been 23 years since we met and began dating. When I think of Paul, especially around his birthday, I think of his Grandpa Harp as well. On his 80th birthday Grandpa Harp, who lost his parents at a young age, told a story about his promise to his parents, to always be a good boy, that he lived his life with that in mind. I remember how moved Paul was by that story and how he, too, has always tried to be a good boy. Interestingly enough it isn't something Paul must try to do (nor was it for Grandpa Harp, either). He is genuinely a good man. He's thoughtful, kind, loving, patient, generous and humble. The list goes on and on. I can't tell you how fortunate I am to have chosen so wisely all those years ago. Shoot when you're 15, you don't know a darn thing and while I might have had an inkling that he would turn out to be such a great man I was mostly just dazzled by how handsome he was, and is! :)

Even though I am terribly biased I believe we, who know and love him, are blessed to have him. So on September 23 I will say, as I do everyday, thanks be to God for this husband of mine, and thanks to his parents, for raising such a wonderful man. You did good!

Happy Birthday, Paul. I love you more than you can ever know.
Your wife,
Lisa

See two posts before...

Our agency announced the referral of 7 healthy baby girls this week. It would seem that 7 is the magic number and it would seem that the time between referrals is about a month now. I don't know what that means for us exactly. We've been in this game for 36 months this month so perhaps we really are closing in on a date? Sometimes reporting this news feels like not really reporting anything at all. There you have it... :)

Love to you all,

Lisa and Paul

Enough already, Jon Gosselin

I think that Jon Gosselin, of the now infamous Jon and Kate Plus 8, is in need of a PR consultant. Seriously, if he's got one they aren't doing their job. LAY LOW, you bonehead. Stay out of the limelight, stop catting around with 22 year old old floozies and have a little respect, if not for the mother of your children, then for your CHILDREN. Good grief.

He released a statement recently wherein he claims to be trying to lay low for the sake of his children who he fears will one day GOOGLE him and see the debauchery that has been his habit of late. YA THINK, Jon?

While I understand the difficulty of an impending divorce (yeah, it looks real difficult, partying on the French Riviera with a 22 year old girl) and there was a time when he might have had my sympathies but those days are over. The argument has been made that he was so young, 22 himself, when he and Kate married and he's making up for lost time. I would suggest that time wasn't lost... it was spent raising children. Also, should someone point out to Jon how ridiculous he looks so openly chasing after his lost youth? An earring. A young girl on his arm. A motorcycle. Parties in the Hamptons, and with French designer Christian Audigier and now Michael Lohan (that's an entirely different rant, folks). I hate to say it (no, no I don't) but Jon Gosselin, you are a cliche, pal.

Well... I've gotten that off my chest. For now. :)

News...of sorts

Our agency just announced the referral of 7 healthy baby girls yesterday. The families who received these referrals have been waiting 40 months and were logged in to the CCAA on March 22, 2006. As you know we were logged into the the CCAA on August 16, 2006. That's the latest. Our family coordinator advised us at the end of 2008 that we shouldn't expect to hear anything until 2010 and that seems to be true, if then.

I would ask for your continued prayers. It's tough.

Each of you is a blessing to us and we value your love and support more than you will know.

Lisa