Conversation Starter.......

Thanks to The Seventh Diamond for the inspiration for this post. Come on over I'll share my pickles and ice cream with ya. Earlier today I read a post on her blog called "Searching for The Idenity of an Adpoting Mother" and it got me to thinking:

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Listen friends and family we here in the adoption community are any where from 1-20 months + pregnant and some days we just feel so excluded from the mother-to-be community. I know sometimes you may feel guilty because you think perhaps you have something we don't but you are so very wrong.....we may not have a belly to put our hand on but we have our heart. You may be able to go to your Dr. and hear the heart beat but we can walk into a nursery that has been eagerly awaiting for in some cases 20 months and sit on the rocking chair and hear in the stillness a faint giggle and smell her blanket that is resting on the corner of her crib. Don't get me wrong I'm so incredibly happy for you, you are truly blessed in different ways than I.

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Please include me in your circle when your telling all our other friends that diapers are on sale, I'd love to hear the stories of your delivery.....Please don't look on me with saddened eyes when you tell me your pregnant cause guess what!!!! We have something in common! I am pregnant too.....allow me to be a player....please don't leave me on the side lines....please.....Invite me to all the baby showers, I love to give all my friends children squeaky shoes! plus a portion of all the sales go back to where my daughter is sleeping at night right now....it's ok you can hand me your baby to hold for a moment while you tie your shoe.....I promise I won't run off with him/her.....I am patiently waiting for delivery of my very own.........yes it is oh so much longer than 9 months....and I'm really doing ok with that....I do not want to rush what is already Gods great plan....and I'm pretty confidant that He has her all ready picked out for us.

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So go ahead ask me anything you want to know about where we are in the process.....you don't have to ask other people what's going on with us, you won't get a more accurate answer than from me and you won't at all upset me by asking...I LOVE to talk about it.

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I know many of you are praying for us....feel free to pray for specific things that are going on....for example that we swiftly exit the review room, and that we would continue to dream about her and that she will be safe in our Fathers arms of protection until she is in our own. Have faith with us my friends and family....she will be here with us one day.....in the mean time we have the LONGEST gestation of a pregnant person you will ever know and we need you more now than ever.

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As for those of you who are there for your friends who are adopting....Thanks.....more than you'll ever know.

Wow! I can't believe it is over. I miss it already and can't wait until we do it again.

Friday: I drove one of the four vans and for 3 hours we sang and told stories. I had the Youth Pastors van, I think it's a 1995 windstar! I thought going up a couple of hills we were going to have to get out an push. We nicknamed it the "Donkey" LOL!
We arrived at the ranch at 8:30 and unpacked the u-haul. The kids all ran to the rooms to pick their bunks and out of 29 kids I ended up with 12 of them in my room! ( Help I'm new at this!) So the other 6 leaders had 17 to share. We got everyone settled in after snack and worship and we all stayed up to talk about the game plan for the next day.

Saturday: I was waken up at 5:30!zzzzzzzzzzzz! A few of the girls wanted to go for jog. So I told them to keep the noise down and go ahead. So we started pretty early. We rounded everyone up and headed in for breakfast by 8am. We split the kids up into 4 groups with 2 leaders to 3 and 1 to the other and did a rotation to four of the activities, air rifles, canoeing, horseback riding and wall climbing. This took up a good part of the day with a lunch break in between. A couple of highlights with my group during our rotation of activities were:
1. Marissa shot half the cans off the wall in about 5 shots and I only hit one! She decided afterwards that she wanted a rifle for her birthday :o0!!!!!!
2.The nice picture of "Tropical Trevor" up there in the slide show was taken before he tried the kayack which capsized on him 30 seconds after he go in it! Lucky for him he was too quick for the leeches to get him!
3. I had 3-4 of the kids ask if they would be allowed to canter the horses and we asked the lady in the stables and she said they couldn't. We got on the horses just in the coral and they taught the kids how to steer them before we went on the trail and the 3-4 who wanted to canter got apprehensive and decided to just stay in the coral while the rest of us went! Not so brave after all he he! The lady said it happens all the time.
4. The wall was hilarious, Marissa decided she no longer wanted a rifle for her birthday..whewww....she found her new passion! She made it to the top and rang the bell but when she came to the bottom she fell onto the ground like a bag of bones! DH scaled the wall in 36 seconds! I was not so brave.

We headed back to regroup all the youth and did a scavenger hunt. The hunt took a long time which was great because it gave some of us a break. By the time that was done it was BBQ time. The ranch put on a huge meal. They had chocolate chip cake for desert!!!! YUMMY! The kids then had some free time some played field sports, some walked, some "tried" to organize another canoe trip. UGG! Others went to their rooms to chat and hang out. When the sun went down over the tree tops we ventured out to the campfire, sang songs, gave testimonies and worshiped, let me tell you there was some worshiping from these children that would have brought a grown man his knees. I mustered up the courage to get up and speak and that opened the flood gates, I just asked them to all close their eyes and I painted them a picture of the Lords coming and how I thought that day might look. Wow, I get chills even now thinking about it. DH got up and gave his testimony, he did a wonderful job. We had one young lady dedicate her life to Jesus that night, God is soooo amazing. So that was the ultimate highlight of our trip. I'm in tears thinking about how nothing else in the world mattered to that young girl she just knew she needed the Lord in her life and wasn't going to lay her head on the pillow until she knew Him in her heart. Mission Accomplished! (sigh)the glow on her little face was pure beauty. We worshiped with glow in the dark bracelet's and sparkler's until everyone was ready to retire for the night. The leaders stayed up to give an account of how they felt their day went with their group and we prayed then went to bed ourselves.

Sunday: Woak up at 6:00 with someones cell phone ringing! (Why do 13-17 yr. olds need cell phones?)(story for another post!) I told her to shut it off and told the 12 of them not to budge for at least another hour. I didn't sleep very well.....I never in my life new that girls could burp, fart and grind their teeth so much! I had to open the door to allow the fresh air to flow threw! Whewwwww! I should have slept with the horses! at least they wouldn't have cell phones! Finally after they were all asleep again "I" got to wake "them" all up!!! YEAH bitter sweet revenge!LOL
We headed out for breakfast then to Church which we had at the campfire. Pastor Jeff did a speech on "Are you in our are you out, there is no in between." It was a great sermon. We then split into groups of 3-4 ad prayed for one another. The little one I had in my prayer group asked for prayer for her mom who has cancer.........I prayed for her and let me tell you I could NOT do it without tears gushing down my face. We then prayed for strength and encouragement for they family.
We packed up the vans and went in for lunch, talked about our weekend and took lots of pictures. Then We headed out. I made it back to the ministry center in the "Donkey" and no one had to push it up hill!
The weekend was amazing, I totally let loose like I said I would and I just enjoyed being myself. The younger gals seemed to really take to me. I am so glad that God put it on me and my DH hearts to do this. Our confirmation came in a very tangible way, our Church seem to find dimes everywhere we go and it seems like it is always a confirmation for something we are waiting on God for. So I found a dime on the ground at the entrance of the ranch and while Shane was giving his testimony he pulled one out of his pocket that he had found and my mouth dropped to the floor, I'd forgotten to tell him I found one earlier in the day! Then the lead Pastor dropped his change out onto the floor by mistake and 5 dimes fell out in the shape of a sail which is on our ministry sign for our church! I believe we are supposed to dedicate or lives to the youth of our church now more than ever. The youth pastor and his beautiful girlfriend thanked us and told us we were a perfect fit for what they were looking for as leaders. I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to join in to youth group every Thursday night from now on.

Things that made me smile this week.

Virginia Tech College in fear again...

I heard this prayer on a Christian radio station today and I thought I would share it all with you.

Father, the unthinkable happened on Monday and then again this morning with the threat of a bomb at Virginia Tech, we come to you with open arms not knowing what to do. Please be with the families, friends and roommates of those who lost loved ones. Father also be with those who's hearts are full of fear. The country is emotionally wounded and those who are right there on the VT campus are shattered and anxious Lord. I also know that there are college campus all over the country who are fearful, I pray that you would calm their hearts, be with those who are struggling emotionally today and help them to deal with what has happened. Lord be with the counselors and faculty as they work on trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. I pray too that the Christian organizations that are also on campus at VT that your hand be on them as they reach out to minister to the hurting. I pray that you give them the words of life that only you can give. I pray for clarity, comfort and healing to those who are there struggling through this confusion. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Been blogging for a year!

Wow, hard to believe I have met some of my blogger friends a year ago! Lee-Anne was the very first person to post a comment on my blog and she offered to help me add links or pictures to my blog. (Thank Lee-Anne) From that day on I have been hooked! You have all been great support for me and I have to say I have learned more from all of you than from our agency.( Not that our agency wouldn't go out of their way to answere any questions we may have, I just found the answeres on your blogs and didn't have to contact them) I just want you all to know I love you all and thank you for being here for me through good times, and bad. ;o) Thanks secret pal for the really sweet Gymboree outfit for March secret pal exchange. I love the Asian themed material. We don't have a great selection of stores here in our town so it will be nice that she won't pass herself on the street!
Hubs had his first set of travel shots done on Friday.



He said it hurt..........poor boy!.......anyway the Dr. thought it would cheer him up to have a Tigger band aid on. I just got a plain old yucky one, I guess I wasn't cute enough! LOL
I just thought I'd show this puppy off! We live in the Atlantic provinces and this lobster was found by a fisherman just off the shores of Meteghan, Nova Scotia. They are usually red and sort of purplish but the odd time they will find a bluish one, but this one is undeniably blue!
EDIT: Yes the Lobster is real, neat isn't it!

Ladybug Sighting!

Does it count when your friends see them too! Here is an e-mail I recieved from my friend Kim this morning!

Isn't it cute! Look at the cute little grin! I'm guessing it is a planter? Am I right Kim?

She also said he has friends too.....cute little bees and catepillers etc....about 20 bucks.

Hi Deb, hope you get this, saw it in the boring old tool section of Sears in Moncton last weekend. I think it is too cute to be hanging out in the tools though,(this is not my favorite section but Dan combs every shelf for a deal or a new toy....i mean tool) anyway couldn't resist grabbing his camera and taking a pic. Employees probably thought I was nuts...Kim

My Overflowing Cup!

There are so many things going on right now that I don't even know where to begin so here is a list not necessarily in chronological order, most are "blessings" and some are "blessings in disguise".


1. Blessing: My daughter has moved back home!!!! She was having a hard time with the living arrangements and thought it would be less hassle to just drive the 45 min drive to college. I am tickled pink. I had a really hard time with her leaving in the first place. We are very close. I know she will only be here for a few months before she gets her own apartment but at least I get a chance to put some projects on the back burner and spend some good mother/daughter time with her. YEAH!!! I LOVE YOU JAC!! ( aka PAN).


2. Blessing in Disguise: The CCAA has sent out referrals up to Oct. 24th, it is only 11 days. How is it a blessing in disguise you say? Well it wasn't less than 11 days!!!! ???? Right? I'm hoping for an increase in the coming months. Sooner or later it has to level out again. I'm all for sooner.


3. Blessing: I finally got my dog Bailey in for his haircut yesterday! He looks great! I had so much going on yesterday I totally forgot him at the groomers and had to make another trip in town to get him! Glenna said it was ok and she didn't tell him his Mommy forgot him ;O) I was only 15 min. late....does that make me a bad doggie mom?!


4. Blessing in Disguise: DH has a job that requires him to drive a lot. He is a service technician for a major machining company based out of Japan called Mazac. His head office is in Montreal and he covers the Maritime provinces. While the company gives him a monthly car allowance plus 40 cents a click he has continued driving his little '92 Ford Festiva hatchback that has been incredible on gas and holds all his tools in the hatch, but alas yesterday on his way to Halifax the transmission started to act up, he thought he would just keep adding fluid to it till he got to his destination but then you wouldn't believe what happened , 50 feet from a rental car place the drive shaft went in it!!!! He just shook his head with a mad grin on his face and walked into the rental shop, ordered up a car for the rest of the week and asked if they could call a tow service to take his little blue hemi to her grave. He thought he could hold off to closer to our trip to get a new car but evidently we can't. So I have spent the day yesterday test driving cars, and it looks like I'll be doing the same today. I'll keep you posted. I'm down to a Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber or a Vibe. Blessing: He wasn't driving on the highway when this happened. Thank you Lord for your protection over him.


5. Blessing in Disguise: This morning I ache........all over.......We started a fitness group at the ministry center on Monday and Saturday mornings. This was my second workout. Sooner or later after a few more rounds the pain will cease and I will have more endurance. I want to be physically fit for all the running around I'll be doing in China and when we get home so it is a small price to pay.


6. Blessing: I have a great network of friends and family. I just want to say thank you for all your support and love and patience as we hurdle through this emotional time in our lives with this long pregnancy. I appreciate all of you. Thanks for celebrating all our ups and downs with us.


7. Blessing: We are going to the PEI adoption group dinner this coming Sunday at a local Chinese food restaurant. I just love soaking in the atmosphere with all the children and their laughter. I love looking at my husband watching and talking to the children, he gets this beautiful glow on his face that empowers me. I tape record it in my mind and play it over and over. We have two new members in our group who just arrived home from China last month so it will be great to see them if they come.



8. Blessing in Disguise: Lipton black tea! Caramel twist and Hazelnut flavor. It is like having desert in a tea cup! Too many before bed,,,,,not a good idea!

9. Blessing: Shane was at the right place at the right time when this baby arrived at the future shop! It was a opened box sale the video camera and all the paperwork inside were undamaged but the box was destroyed so they sold it to him $150 off!!!!! He knew we would need it for our trip so he scooped it up!!!!

10. Blessing: I have come across my first blog party, it is a great way to get to know people who are out their in blog land who are ordinary every day people that have real life issues like most of us do. You can grab a java pop on over by clicking the link on my side bar. Sign in and go mingle. The party goes from March 2nd to March 9th. I think when I signed in I was the 723rd attendee!!!!!

Did I mention how excited I am that my daughter is back home! Yeah!