Our Little Ladybug

Still Counting...

2009-11-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

29 Months...

2009-05-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

Our LID is now 29 months old.
We are still waiting, hoping, and wishing
every single minute.
We pray that Jade will soon be home.

Waiting.

2009-05-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

It's so hard to wait.
I just need the day to get here when I can hold her in my arms.
I need the day to get here when she will be home.
I miss her so much without even knowing her yet.

28 Months

2009-05-04T11:14:00.001-07:00

Still waiting.
Still wishing.
Still hoping.
Still praying.

27 Months since LID...

2009-04-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

and no end in sight.

26 Months

2009-03-01T10:28:00.001-08:00

Jade,
Every day I pray for you.
I pray that you will be home sooner than we are currently predicting.
I pray that Dad and I will be good parents and you will always feel loved.
I pray that my grandfather will still be alive when you finally arrive home.
I pray for your happiness.
Every day I pray for you.

Love,
Mom

25

2009-02-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

Twenty-five months down...

Second Quilt Finished

2009-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

Jade's second quilt is finished and I love it! It is a wall quilt and it looks beautiful in her room. My friend and coworker Kathy made this one, too, and the work she does is just gorgeous. I couldn't have asked for it to turn out any more beautiful than it is!

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T07:56:00.001-08:00

Christmas 2008

2009-01-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas has come and gone. As usual, Ken and I bought gifts for Jade for each other to open. I bought three books for Jade which Ken opened.

Ken bought a video collection of Christmas classics and a Winnie the Pooh ornament for her.

Santa surprised me with a Wii and Wii Fit this year as well. I must have made the Nice List after all!

My friend Linda gave me a very special ornament- a little Chinese girl. You can find her on the tree if you look closely.

My mom gave me a very special Christmas gift. She gave me the charm from her charm bracelet which my father gave to her when I was born. It has a little girl's face on front and has my name and birthdate engraved on back. She put it in a friendship ball I had given her a while ago that was meant to be passed between the three of us- my mom, sister, and me. It was a really touching gift.

All in all, it was a really relaxing Christmas!

Two Years Down

2009-01-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve was our two year mark.
Happy 2 year/ 24 month LID to us!
Happy New Year to all!

23 Months

2008-12-01T10:22:00.001-08:00

23 Months Down...
Another holiday season without Jade...
No end in sight.

22 Months Down

2008-11-09T06:28:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to believe that we have been logged in for 22 months already. I remember that when we first logged in, we had hope of having Jade home by the Olympics. Look at us now- almost two years down and no end in sight. It's hard not to get discouraged, but we will wait for her as long as it takes.

21 Months Down!

2008-10-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

Happy 21 month LID anniversary to us!

We are heading to New York City this weekend to celebrate my 41st birthday. Soon we will also be starting on Jade's second quilt. School is keeping me really busy this year so far. That's all for now!

20 Months!

2008-09-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Our LID is 20 months old! Tomorrow also marks the start of a new school year. One more school year closer to Jade...that's how I am trying to look at it!

Nineteen

2008-08-06T15:11:00.001-07:00

Our LID is now 19 months old...

Disneyworld

2008-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Disneyworld was great! I think it was one of the best vacations we have ever had. It did make me a little sad from time to time to see all of the families with their children there -wishing we had Jade. We know that the next time we go, we will have her.

The first day we arrived a bit late, so all we did was go to Downtown Disney. We ate a really nice dinner there at the House of Blues.

The next day, we went to EPCOT. I have loved it there since I was in high school, especially the World Showcase. We spent a lot of time in China and when we were there, I had some sort of realization. I realized it doesn't matter how long we wait for Jade- we will never give up. We will never choose a different option. She is already part of our family and we already love her, so we will wait as long as it takes. Of course, we want it to be a short wait, but we will keep waiting until she is home.

The next day we had a wonderful breakfast at the Polynesian Village and then went hotel hopping to see some of the Disney hotels. I LOVED the Animal Kingdom Lodge and would love to stay there once. We were staying in the All Star Music Resort. After that we went to Hollywood Studios and then to the Magic Kingdom. It was a long and busy day.

The next day we went to Animal Kingdom and I really loved it there. It was Ken's 41st birthday and he wore his special birthday button you get from Disney. So many people said happy birthday to him. :) I actually was a big girl and rode Expedition Everest even though I was scared silly. It wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I do not like roller coasters!

We finished up by going back to Downtown Disney for some last minute shopping, and then the next day, it was time already for our flight home. I wore my new Mickey shirt home which I bought in Asia at Animal Kingdom. It was such a great trip. I just wish it wasn't over!

Soon I will have to start thinking about my classroom and getting it ready for the new school year. Summer, I never want you to end!

Disneyworld, Here We Come!

2008-07-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well, this will be a nice way to spend our 19 month LID anniversary!
We're heading to Disney!

I get more and more depressed reading the predicted wait times. I think so often of how different this would be if we just sent our dossier in a year earlier. I keep thinking that if the wait stretches to 5 years (3 and a half years from now), we will be 44 when we finally bring Jade home.

I think I have too much time on my hands in the summer and I think too much. I have to admit that the past 19 months flew by and hopefully the next 19 will as well. Then hopefully, we will be nearly there. It's like a roller coaster ride. Some days I am so hopeful and other days, it feels like we will never have her home.

Well, one day at a time.

18 Months

2008-07-07T15:08:00.001-07:00

18 Months and no end in sight...
I am still feeling pretty down about it all.

Hanging in There

2008-06-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day in a really long time when I have cried about how long this is all taking us- how long it will be before we have Jade home with us. I haven't had too many really hopeless days like this, but today was one of the saddest. Perhaps it was reading projections of 2013 that did me in.

In any case, I told my sister this morning about how I was feeling. She left work early and came and surprised me with some very special things. She brought me a holy adoption bear, a medal and prayer card for St. Thomas More, the patron saint of adoption. She also gave us a gift card for Cinemark movie theater for a date night for Ken and me. I was so surprised and touched.

I just have to keep hanging in there and know that Jade is at the end of it. As my friend Stan told me today, "Always remember if things are meant to be they will be and at times there are reasons for things happening. Keep praying and watching for signs." I will do just that.

Jade's First Quilt

2008-06-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Jade's first quilt is finished! I never thought we would receive over 400 squares, but with all of the swaps I did and all of the squares from family and friends, that's what we ended up with!

This is her first quilt which we fondly call the Cozy Critter Quilt. We pulled out many of the animals and insects for this one. We chose a style called Attic Window so it looks like you must peek through the little windows to see the animals. We chose pretty greens (one pattern with dragonflies) for the background.

My coworker, Kathy, did the front and back. Then we took it to Diana, a woman who has a longarm quilting machine to put it all together, and then it went back to Kathy again for the binding.

We are really pleased with it and think it turned out just like we wanted!

Thank you, Secret Pal!

2008-06-07T05:21:00.001-07:00

We received our WONDERFUL package from our Winter Blossoms Secret Pal, and what a package it was!

First, Jade received the most adorable ladybug dress. Ken and I saw one almost exactly like it on a little girl recently and had admired it. Now it was if Laura read our minds, because there was one waiting for Jade in our package! Jade also will be warm and snuggly with the hooded towel and slippers. They are so cozy and cute.

Jade received a giant bank with lots of goodies inside, and speaking of goodies, we received the prettiest candy I have ever seen! It was inside a little purse and each candy was colorful and decorative. The flavors were incredible and unique!

Lastly, Laura did not forget our two doggies, Penny and Bailey, and sent them healthy treats. That was incredibly thoughtful and really touched us. She included a very special (and pretty) note. This followed her many emails (secret, of course!) throughout the month which I really enjoyed as well. She was truly a special secret pal.

Thank you, Laura! We really appreciated your thoughtfulness!

17 Months

2008-05-31T05:07:00.001-07:00

Our LID is 17 months old!

Hooray!

2008-04-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

We are officially out of the Review Room and onto the Match Room!

Happy 18th Anniversary to us!

2008-04-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

It was 18 years ago today that we said, "I do."
Here's to many, many more happy years together!

Something Special

2008-04-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

My friend, Linda S., made this very special Easter egg in Jade's honor. It's decorated with beeswax! I was very touched!

Also, our very first quilt is off at the quilter's as we speak! My coworker, Kathy, did the quilt top and the back. Then I took it to a local quilter who will machine quilt it to finish it off. It is adorable! We took all of the animals & insect squares to make a "Cozy Critter" quilt for the first one. We have over 400 squares, so there are more quilts a'coming! The border and background are pretty shades of green and we chose the attic window style, so it looks like you peek into little windows to see the animals. I can't wait to see what it looks like when finished. I think it will be perfect!

Thank You, Secret Pals!

2008-04-13T07:27:00.001-07:00

Our Peppermint Pearls pals have surprised us again with lots of wonderful treats! The theme this month was "Goodnight, Sleep Tight" and our pals sent us such lovely things for Jade. She received the cutest pajamas- one set with little frogs complete with frog slippers to match! The other set has pretty flowers. She also received The Going to Bed Book. We received a beautiful card with a very special message. I can't wait to read her the book in her new, cozy PJ's Thank you, Secret Pals!

Fifteen Months

2008-04-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Our LID is 15 months old.
It's hard to believe we may not even be halfway there.
At least we're moving forward.

14 Months

2008-03-01T05:58:00.000-08:00

Our LID is fourteen months old.
We will wait forever if we must,
but I hope we don't have to...

13 Months

2008-02-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

Our LID is now 13 months old!

Thank You, Secret Pals!

2008-02-02T07:39:00.001-08:00

Thank you so much to our Peppermint Pearls Secret pals for the wonderful gifts this month! We really loved everything!

We received two beautiful books for Jade. One is The Red Blanket and the other is Dragon Dance. We can't wait to read both of them to her! We also received an adorable shirt for her with a cute little frog (perhaps the Frog Prince because he has a crown!) that says "Pucker up." The Chinese take away container filled with caramel kisses didn't last very long in our house! What a treat! We also loved the beautiful card.

Thank you so much for lifting our spirits yet again in this long wait.

One Year LID Anniversary!

2007-12-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

Today our LID is one year old. I just wonder how many more years we will have to wait. I know it will be at least two more, but I wonder how many more even beyond that.

I can't be discouraged, though, or wonder how old I will be when Jade is finally home. I just have to remember that we have one year of waiting behind us (even though it's really three years behind us since we decided to adopt!) and eventually, Jade will be our daughter.

Happy 2008!

Christmas 2007

2007-12-26T08:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas was really lovely this year. Everything was enjoyable, busy, and special.

Two of my friends gave me very special gifts with Jade in mind. My friend, Mary, gave me a very pretty panda ornament for our tree. My friend, Linda, gave me a pewter angel with the poem, "Not flesh of my flesh nor bone of my bone but still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn't grow under my heart but in it." Both really meant a lot to me.

My sister gave me a beautiful angel that says Chosen Child on it and has the beautiful message: "You were in our hearts before we knew you. God bless the day you came to us."

On Christmas morning, we opened gifts from each other to Jade. Ken bought her some pretty outfits, and I bought her some Christmas books and a panda ornament.

Christmas Day was also special because we had my family and Ken's family together for dinner. All in all, it was a really lovely Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Jade...

2007-12-25T08:49:00.001-08:00

It's another Christmas without you, but it only means we are one year closer to finally having you home with us. You are on our minds and in our hearts all day long. We love you. Merry Christmas, Baby.

Here Comes Santa Claus!

2007-12-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

Every year, Santa rides by our house on a fire truck on the Saturday before Christmas. The sirens blare and the doggies go crazy! Every year we watch for him amidst wrapping gifts, watching Christmas movies, and (usually) eating some cookies or candy! I can't wait until we can watch out our front door for Santa with Jade.

Happy Holidays To All!

2007-12-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

I love being home with our Christmas tree lit and all of our decorations around. Everything feels so cozy this time of year. I have to find a new and creative way to display Christmas cards. I usually have two displays- the ones that are mailed to us by friends and family are on the side of our refrigerator (which faces toward the foyer) and the ones from my students and coworkers are on the woodwork around our closet in our front entryway. I wish I had a more creative way to hang them.

Anyway, happy holidays to all!

Santa Babies

2007-12-16T06:37:00.001-08:00

I received these two pretty ornaments from my friend in Ireland. Naturally, I put photos of the two Santa babies in them!

A Gift to Myself

2007-12-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

I love these! I ordered the jade one for myself and the happy one as a gift, but I am keeping them both! Shame on me! This is NOT the way to Christmas shop!

11 Months!

2007-12-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

Our LID is now eleven months old. I know we have a long wait ahead of us, but it feels good to know that we have eleven months behind us!

Our December Secret Pal Gifts

2007-12-02T05:48:00.000-08:00

Our new Secret Pals through the Peppermint Pal group are wonderful! We received so many special gifts in our recent package.

Our gifts included: an adorable bib for Jade that says "Santa Loves Me," two books for Jade, two very pretty Christmas kitchen towels (already in the kitchen!), a set of three Yankee candles (cedar and balsam) that smell soooooo "holidayish," delicious chocolates which we can't seem to resist, a stuffed reindeer with little candy canes, a wooden Christmas tree hanging, and a very special card.

What amazing pals you are! We really appreciate your thoughtfulness and kindness. Happy Holidays to you!

Love from Kerrie and Ken

10 Months

2007-11-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

On October 31, it was our ten month LID anniversary.
Time marches on and we keep waiting...

My 40th Birthday Extravaganza!

2007-10-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it's hard to believe that on October 3, I was 40 years old. In some ways, I feel like I am still a kid myself, and in other ways, I wonder where all the years have gone. I was really feeling a bit depressed over 40 before it happened.

My birthday, however, was wonderful! My friends, students, and family all came through to make it the most wonderful celebration I have ever had. The hoopla lasted for days and I received so many wonderful gifts and cards! I thought often about how lucky I am to have so many people in my life who care about me.

In many ways, my life is just beginning as we await Jade, and I am blessed by all that has come before and all that will come after the 40th year mark!

My Life

2007-10-06T14:51:00.001-07:00

How to spot an English teacher...

Our LID is 9 months old!

2007-10-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that nine months have passed. It does seem like it went by quickly, but it's hard to know we have what seems like forever in front of us. Also, it's hard to know that if I was pregnant, we'd have her right around now. The wait continues...

All About Me

2007-09-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

This was fun!

My personalDNA Report

On To Better News...

2007-09-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Our LID is now 8 months old!

Back to School Already?

2007-09-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is the day before school starts. How can it possibly be that the summer is over already? Today I am in a state of sadness. I know once I get this week done, I'll feel a lot better. At the moment, however, yep...it's a state of sadness.

Thank You, Secret Pals!

2007-08-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

We are sending out a BIG thank you to our August Winter Blossom Pals, Carol and Lance! We received such a wonderful package in the mail from them filled with adorable (and delicious) things! Jade received a beautiful outfit, bibs, and bowls and a snack cup. There were also some stickers/goodies for her scrapbook. Also, I received very cute and summery notecards and delicious- smelling Bath & Bodyworks lotion. Last, but not least, delicious Dove chocolate and Almond Joys (candy that both of us love)!

Thanks SO much, Carol and Lance! We appreciate it with all of our hearts!

Dog Days of Summer

2007-08-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's August already. I thought I was going to get so much done this summer, but all I want to do is drink tea and read novels.

I feel the way my two doggies look.

Big Seven

2007-07-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today our LID is seven months old!

Arthur

2007-07-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

ARTHUR and friends welcome a new character - a baby sister for Binky Barnes - this fall when the Emmy-Award winning series tackles adoption from a child's perspective.

On Friday, September 7th (check local listings) the series starring Marc Brown's beloved animated aardvark captures a family's experience with adoption in a special 2-part episode.In 'Big Brother Binky', Arthur's friend Binky's family adopts a baby girl from China and Binky learns not only the importance of being a big brother but that families come in all different shapes in sizes. Binky manages the joys, and sometimes difficulties, of understanding his new sister with humor and imagination and becomes the proudest big brother in Elwood City.

Expanding upon the series' well-established commitment to addressing topics that children of all backgrounds can relate to, this episode undertakes a topic that affects millions of people every day in all parts of the world. By exploring the adoption process from Binky's anticipation of the baby's arrival, to the ups and downs of getting to know one another, and finally to the joy of welcoming the baby into Binky's heart and home, ARTHUR opens the doors for discussion around adoption among parents, children, and educators.

According to ARTHUR creator Marc Brown, "What the series does best is reflect the lives of kids in an authentic and fun way that resonates with both viewers and their parents. Because adoption is so important to so many families, we thought it was a great opportunity for ARTHUR to explore this subject."Executive Producer Pierre Valette adds, "We put a lot of work into this episode -- including extensive research and interviews with many adoptive families. To tell this story thoroughly and well, we decided to devote both 11 minute animated stories in the episode to it --something that we rarely do. We hope that the millions of families touched by adoption in this country, and around the world, will find familiarity and accuracy in our portrayal of the experience of these characters."

Shopping Again!

2007-07-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the very kind Jessica who shared the link with me, I have just ordered this for Jade's room. It's only $8 and it looks so cute!

Special Gifts

2007-07-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

While in Bermuda, we bought a shirt for Jade as well as a book called Ghunda's Bermuda Holiday. It is a true story. In 1954, a ship was carrying Ghunda, a three year old elephant, from India to the US to join a circus. The ship was forced to stop in Bermuda to replace a damaged propeller. The owner, worried about the delay, arranged to fly Ghunda to New York on Pan American Airlines. The elephant was led to the plane but refused to board. What transpired was a comic scene as six men pushed and shoved the bellowing, stubborn animal while passengers complained and local crowds cheered. Ghunda was refusing to leave Bermuda!

My sister also recently took a trip to Wyoming to be in a friend's wedding. She stayed for a week and went to Yellowstone as well. She used to live there but moved back to PA last year. Like the great auntie that she already is, she brought some very fun things back for Jade!

We also had the print framed that we bought at FCC's Chinese Culture Day. This was the one that the artist, Grace Lin, signed for Jade. It looks very pretty in her room above her dresser.

Summer Fun

2007-07-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well, even though I don't go back to work until after Labor Day, it is starting to feel like the summer is ending. I have to stop feeling that way!

I guess maybe it feels like that because all of the exciting parts of the summer are over. Our cruise to Bermuda has come and gone. Last Thursday, we went to see the Police in concert in Philadelphia. We stayed overnight and made a little trip out of it. Then on Saturday we took a trip to the Thousand Islands (where we toured Singer Castle).

The rest of summer will be filled with cleaning, organizing, and getting ready for the new school year. Maybe that is why I feel so blah!

Our Bermuda Cruise

2007-07-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that our cruise is over already! We had a great time in Bermuda. We had three days in port in Bermuda and we made the most of them!

Day 1- St. George's

We walked around St. George's (where we were docked) and saw the sights. It is a beautiful, quaint World Heritage site. My favorite place there was probably the Unfinished Church.

We also got to see Gombey dancers at the street market festival!

Day 2- Royal Naval Dockyards, Hamilton & Fort St. Catherine

We went to the other tip of the island and visited the Dockyards (shopping) and then Hamilton (more shopping).

Day 3- Crystal & Fantasy Caves, Botanical Gardens, BAMZ (Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo)

We made a number of animal friends during our trip...

6 Months!

2007-07-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today, our LID is 6 months old!
The time does seem to be going by sort of quickly.
I know we still have a very long time to wait, though!

I've Been Tagged!

2007-06-29T15:52:00.001-07:00

Well, I have been tagged by Kim, so here goes:

The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

So here are mine:

1. I am fascinated with England. I think perhaps I must have been British in a former life! Ever since I was maybe ten or eleven, I remember having a fixation with the country. I first visited there in 1997 and have since been there five times, but I remember my first visit, thinking, "I don't care if I see anything outside Heathrow airport. I would even love to just sit in the airport and listen to the accents." I think a British accent is so lovely, and the pound symbol makes me swoon! Yes, it's crazy!

2. I am a people watcher. I am fascinated by people, and I love to sit in the middle of a park or mall and just watch. I especially love airports, where I can sit and watch and create stories about people's lives. I envision where they are heading, whom they are meeting, where their travels may take them. I think I should perhaps become a fiction writer, as I've created fictional adventures for many strangers in my day.

3. I have a best friend in Ireland whom I've only met in person twice! In school, my teacher offered pen pal matches to us, and I ordered five foreign pen pals. Four fizzled out, but my friend Anna in Ireland and I kept writing over the years. We have been friends through high school, college, marriage, the birth of her two kids, and now our adoption of Jade. She and I have been writing for over twenty five years. Our first visit was in Ireland in 1997, and our second was in NYC in May of this year. We hope to have many more visits and still faithfully write and tell each other everything!

4. I love to travel. I have been bitten by the travel bug so badly I need insect repellant! I remember having the travel bug even as a child. I remember how even the foreign countries in Epcot thrilled me, and I would pretend I was in the real countries. My sister and I tried to speak in the accents of each country as we moved through Epcot! I will say I pick up foreign accents pretty well and could even as a child. I dreamed of someday visiting all of those faraway lands. We have since been to a number of foreign places: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Canada. Next week we will add Bermuda to that list and soon...China! I hope to be able to travel for a long, long time. I just love experiencing other cultures.

5. I have a strange fascination with the dark side of things. I was probably a Goth wannabe in high school, but I went to a Catholic high school and so I wasn't allowed. I think Robert Smith and David Bowie are cool. I love The Crow and think he's pretty cute! I love vampires and I think New Orleans is the most amazing American city!

6. I am NOT an outdoorsy girl. I like my life climate-controlled, thank you very much. I do not like heat or humidity or bugs. I don't like to sweat. I can be a baby about it sometimes. I do love rain and snow as long as I am watching them from my window!

7. We have two dogs whom we love dearly. I love all animals and think sometimes I should have become a vet rather than a teacher. I think it might be hard for me to see animals in pain, though, if I had become a vet. I cannot stand any mistreatment toward animals and I would have fifteen dogs if we had a big sprawling farm and we had the room!

8. I love to create things. I have a need to make things, especially artistic things. I therefore love home decorating, scrapbooking, arts and crafts, etc. I make a lot of things for my classroom and love to design activities and bulletin boards. I think I am creative and imaginative, and sometimes I feel like I haven't yet found the perfect outlet for that. I feel I could make a million if I only found the perfect outlet!

Okay, I now tag the following people...No pressure, though, if you don't want to!

Kristen
Connie
Krista
Christine
Elisa
Doris
Heather
Carol

Thank You To Our Secret Pals!

2007-06-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

Our Winter Blossom Secret Pals for June were the Hoppe family, and what wonderful secret pals they are!

I can't seem to get the photo to rotate no matter how I try, so I apologize for that! We were AMAZED and so touched by the beautiful and patriotic blanket made by Hayley and Piper themselves! What a cozy and very special gift. I know Jade will enjoy snuggling with it, and it will be even more special when I tell her where it came from! The other two gifts were wrapped up so prettily, one with an adorable tag for Jade with love from Piper and Paisley (their soon-to-be daughter)! I have saved the tag and the wonderful Olivia card for Jade's scrapbook.

One of the other gifts was an adorable blue outfit for Jade that says All- American Sweetie on it. It is so cute! The other was a hardcover, beautiful Disney book of Americana classic stories. I can't wait to read them with Jade. In addition, our pals really spoiled us with five extra quilt squares and wishes (!), all of which are very beautifully made and special. I really can't thank them enough for their truly touching and treasured June gifts! Many, many thanks to the Happy Hoppes!

Love from us-
xoxo

Bermuda, Here We Come!

2007-06-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, I woke up this morning and NEVER dreamed that by the end of the day, we would have cruise reservations for Bermuda! It was totally spur of the moment when I saw a great deal online! We will be spending a week in July on our cruise! Luckily, we have Mom to watch the dogs/house for us. I am SOOOOOOOOO excited! Bermuda, here we come!

We were on one cruise before to the Baltic region(Denmark, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland) and it was such a relaxing and amazing adventure. I can't believe we will be cruising again!

Busy as a Bee!

2007-06-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well, summer vacation has started and I have to get busy! I have promised myself that I will get so many things accomplished this summer. I don't know if I really will, but it's good to have a dream! Next on the list is planting the flowers that we bought yesterday:

Here are some photos from our previous NYC weekend:

Ellis Island

In addition, we had a FABULOUS weekend in NYC over Memorial Day. One of my very best friends was visiting for her very first trip to the USA! Anna and I were matched as pen pals in school about 25 years ago, and we have been friends ever since! She now has two daughters and I love her whole family. We only met once in person when we traveled to Ireland in 1997, but we are in contact about every two months. We have grown up together and gone through so many things together. It was so wonderful to spend some time with her and her husband in NYC!

Here we are at Tavern on the Green for dinner:

Here we are at South Street Seaport- having lunch:

I miss her already and I wish we could have spent more time together. When we took them to the airport, she gave me a bag of special gifts including two dolls for Jade. One is an Irish doll right from Ireland and the other is her very first porcelain doll. Anna truly is a special friend.

Attention: Harry Potter Fans!

2007-06-16T05:57:00.001-07:00

A theme park inspired by the adventures of schoolboy wizard Harry Potter is to open in the US. The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter will open at the Universal Orlando Resort, in Florida, in 2009.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling said: "The plans I've seen look incredibly exciting, and I don't think fans of the books or films will be disappointed." Touted as a "theme park within a theme park", it will feature attractions and rides based on Harry Potter locations.

Based inside Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park, which already houses Marvel Super Heroes and Dr Seuss islands, the Harry Potter theme will be spread over 20-acres.

Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig, who has worked on the Harry Potter films, is leading the creative design for the park to ensure it remains faithful to JK Rowling's vision. "Our primary goal is to make sure this experience is an authentic extension of Harry Potter's world as it is portrayed in the books and films," he said.

Busy Days

2007-06-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

We have been so busy lately! This past weekend, we went to New York City for the FCC Chinese Culture Day at Liberty State Park. We left on Friday and had a really nice time at South Street Seaport. On Saturday, we went to the Culture Day. At the marketplace, we met Grace Lin who illustrates many children's books. We bought two books for Jade and got Grace to autograph!

We bought one of her prints (limited edition- only 50 of them!) for Jade's room. It is from her book Red is a Dragon. We love it and it will look so beautiful on Jade's wall. Grace autographed it to Jade as well. We are going to have it framed.

We also took the ferry to Ellis Island, and that was amazing! My great-grandparents arrived here at Ellis Island, and it is amazing to think that perhaps I walked in their footsteps there.

On Sunday, we went to the Museum of Natural History as well as a flea market where I found a treasure! I found a necklace made from a pre-1940 Chinese postage stamp. It is embedded in sterling silver. I love it!

All in all, it was a great weekend!

Our Peppermint Pearls May Secret Pal

2007-06-03T10:26:00.001-07:00

Thank you so much, Secret Pal, for your wonderful May gifts! The photo album is adorable and I can't wait to have "Jade & Mommy" photos to put into it! I love the book you sent. The quotes by the children are priceless! I've already read the whole thing. The bath products will be much enjoyed. It was great to receive your package and we thank you so much for your kindness!

LID Anniversary!

2007-06-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

Our LID is 5 months old!

My Very Sweet Grandfather

2007-05-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

My grandfather stopped by my house today, and I asked him if he would pose for pictures for Jade's scrapbook. I asked him to hold the things he made for her room and I took two photos of him in her room. I think they will be special additions to her book.

Gifts!

2007-05-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

My sister gave us the loveliest basket filled with goodies for our anniversary in April. It was filled with books for Jade and books for us about being parents. It was so wonderful! For Mother's Day, she gave me a Chinese stamp kit and a beautiful card.

Also, here is the panda painting we bought for Jade's room at the art show in New Jersey. This was done by the very sweet artist we met who was born in Guangzhou. We love it!

Happy Mother's Day!

2007-05-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of us!
My sister gave me a beautiful card that says "You're already a mother in your heart..." on front.
That's true for all of us- even those who are waiting for their first child, like the two of us are.

This truly feels different than any other Mother's Day!

Fabulous Squish

2007-05-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

I just had to share the fabulous square I received for Jade's quilt from my friend Aynne. She is an art teacher, so she chose to make her own fabric square. I love it!

Also, our school nurse has offered to make the quilt (quilts?) for us when it is time. She is an avid quilter and is really good at it. I am so honored that she will be making this special gift for Jade.

Recent Happenings

2007-05-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Lately it seems I am always busy. I never do much, but still- I am busy! Our 17th wedding anniversary was in April and we went away for two nights to Princeton, New Jersey. We had never been there, and we just loved the area. We left on Friday, and Friday night we ate at P.F. Chang's for the first time. It's a good thing there are none of those around me or I'd be there every day! We really enjoyed it! The weather was gorgeous and we sat on the patio and ate.

On Saturday, there was an art show in a neighboring town and we went. It was at the Croft Farm Art Center in Cherry Hill. It is an old farm that is hundreds of years old and it was even a stop on the Underground Railroad. Now it is an arts center. We bought a panda painting for Jade's room by an adorable Chinese artist. He was born in Guangzhou and told us that he hoped his painting would bring good luck and happiness for our family. He signed the back of our painting for us and drew two pandas in a heart on the back.

We shopped around Princeton and had a nice lunch at a cozy place. We had gelato and sat on a bench outside to eat it. It felt like summer vacation even though it was onyl April! We had room service for dinner on Saturday night. Then on Sunday, we ate lunch again at P.F. Chang's before heading home. It was truly a wonderful anniversary weekend.

Our next big plan is to go to NYC on the June 9 weekend. We are going to the big FCCNY Chinese festival at Liberty State Park on Saturday, but we decided to head to the city early on Friday. I am really looking forward to it. It will also be a great feeling when we're there knowing that I only have three more days of school. I wish I could be finished, but it could be worse, I guess.

We went to see the third Spiderman today. It was okay, but it got a bit corny in the middle when Peter turned "bad." Still, I love going to the movies. It is always exciting to me. They showed a preview for the new Harry Potter which starts July 13, so I am looking forward to that.

Next weekend, my sister and I are taking Mom out to a fancy Mother's Day brunch at a very pretty restaurant. It should be a nice time.

That's about all the news...counting down the days until school is out. The summer can't get here fast enough!

4 Month Mark

2007-05-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

So...we have reached our four month mark since LID. It's so hard to think about how many months we have ahead of us. I read messages saying that we could have up to a three year wait and I feel sick to my stomach. I know it is something we have no control over, but I can't stop myself from thinking that if we had only started the China process earlier when we were involved with pursuing Russian adoption, we would already have our Jade home. I know everything happens in God's time and there is a reason why we started exactly when we did. It's just so hard to remember that sometimes! We both turn 40 this year and it's looking like we will probably be 42 by the time we bring her home. I never could have predicted I would be a first-time parent at 42! All in good time...

Thank You, Winter Blossom April Secret Pal!

2007-04-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our WONDERFUL Secret Pal, Erica Dick! The books she sent along to us were so special, and none of them are books that we already have! Ken and I sat down together and read all of them! We received the sweetest book entitled Mama, How Long Will You Love Me? The illustrations and the words in it are so beautiful. Next, we received one called A Blessing From Above, and I got misty after reading it! Oh, my goodness! It is so adorable.

I have been wanting the Five Little Ladybugs book, and now I can want no more because my secret pal came to the rescue! Also, we received Dragon Dance, a wonderfully colorful book about Chinese New Year. I have always loved Dr. Seuss, and Erica sent us his Amazing ABC Book. Last, but not least, we received a really creative book called What Makes a Rainbow? We love everything!

You were so generous and kind, and your lovely note was so special. We will save it for Jade's scrapbook. I will definitely practice reading snuggled up with the pups as you suggested.
Thanks again for being such a thoughtful secret pal.

A Special Poem

2007-04-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

"Dear Sweet Daughter"
Author: Gayle Leubecker

Dear Sweet Daughter,
As a girl I had a common dream, to be a mom someday.
My baby would have eyes of blue and hair the hue of hay.
But now my dreams have been transformed. New visions fill my head.
Now the tresses that I long to stroke are raven black instead.

And in my dreams those eyes are not so big or blue or round.
Now in my dreams they're almond shaped and colored cocoa brown.
And in my dreams my arms can stretch across enormous seas.
They reach half-way around the world and hold you close to me.

As you grow in your mother's womb, carefully knit together,
You're also growing in my heart, where you will stay forever.
And in my dreams the moment that your mother says good-bye,
I'll be right there to comfort you and hold you as you cry.

Our features may not look alike; we're different as can be.
But still I know the Father has created you for me.
And though I've not yet seen your face, or held your tiny hands,
And though we're half a world apart in very different lands,

I'll be right there to get you just as soon as God allows
But til He says the time is right I give to you this vow.
I'll pray for your protection every night on bended knee.
For God will hold you in His arms until you're here with me.

Jade's Room

2007-04-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, my 84 year old grandfather made Jade a lovely little bench for her room. He even asked us for paint so he could paint it the same color as her room! Here it is...

Then on Easter Sunday after brunch, he asked Ken and I if we could stop down his house afterward because he wanted our "opinion" on something. Little did I know he had another beautiful gift that he made waiting for Jade. He made her a birdcage and inside, he put "the bluebird of happiness." It was truly special.

Last, but not least, we also bought a lovely wooden panda for her room at a craft show. None of the wood is painted- it is actually different types/colors of wood pieced together!

Our 100th Squish!

2007-04-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

We received one more beautiful square in the mail today and then I made Jade her 100th squish! Hooray! I felt it only fitting that the first one and the last one in the 100 be from us.

Now starts the second group of 100!

I give you...Jade's 100th squish!

"He could tell
by the way
the animals walked
that they were keeping time
to some kind of music.
Maybe
it was the song
in their own hearts
that they walked to."

~Laura Adams Armer
Waterless Montain (1931)

Always listen to the song in your heart.
Love,
Mommy
xo

Quilt Update

2007-04-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we are up to 98 squishes for Jade's quilt! I posted the latest ones today on her quilt blog. I was really falling behind in doing that. I thank all the people who have so kindly sent us squares so far! They are all so beautiful and special.

I have decided to try to get to 200 squares to make 2 quilts for Jade. One will be a keepsake quilt and the other will be for snuggling and using. My friend said to me,"I don't know which quilt I want to be in- they both sound nice!" I said, "Then give two squares and be in both!" He seemed pleased with that!

Also, our school nurse, who is an avid and talented quilter, told me she will make the quilts! I am overjoyed! She really "gets" how special they are and she really understands what a quilt means and all that goes into it. I know the quilts will be beautiful when they are finished!

Three Month Mark!

2007-03-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

It is 3 months since our LID!

I will say that the first three months have gone by pretty quickly.

I know we have so many more to go,

but I am trying to stay positive!

It will fly by!

Yes, it will FLY by, I say!

Special Gift

2007-03-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

My grandfather (who is 84 years old) gave me a very special gift today. He made a little bench for Jade! He asked me for some paint a while back (that was the color we used on the walls) because he was making a surprise. Well, he painted the bench the same cream color as her walls. The bench also has a scalloped trim- painted pink- as well as two hearts cut out in the top. It is really sweet and so special. It looks perfect in her room- like it is at home.

It is my prayer that he will be with us for a long, long time and will get to know Jade. I just wish she was here yesterday for so many reasons.

Thank You, Secret Pals!

2007-03-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

We received our Secret Pals gifts today from the Peppermint Pearl gift exchange! Oh, my goodness! What a special and wonderful box! We received the most adorable Precious Moments stuffed bunny. When you press on its tummy, it says the night time prayer ("Now I lay me down to sleep" in the most precious little voice you could imagine). We loooooooove it! It also matches Jade's room so perfectly with the pink and the bunny theme.

We also received the most adorable book- Guess How Much I Love You. I can't wait to read it to her at bedtime! What a meaningful gift. Last, but not least, we received beautiful lavender scented bedtime oils. I just love the scent of lavender! We also received an adorable ladybug card with a throughtful message inside.

Secret Pals, thank you so much! Your box came on a horrible day (my dogs chewed up my mini-blinds, so I came home to find that fiasco). I needed your box today more than you know. It made me refocus on what is important- not stupid, shredded mini-blinds- but the preparing for our daughter and the goodness of people like you! I also must say- everything you sent was something I would have picked out myself- that's how perfectly it suited us! Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

xo

The Nursery

2007-03-16T07:08:00.001-07:00

Well, I had mentioned a few weeks ago that we ordered Jade's furniture. We know it's early, but we knew what we wanted and there was such a great financing offer with no interest until 2011 that we couldn't pass it up. This way, we can hopefully have it paid off by the time she is home! It is more beautiful than I had even imagined. The pictures really don't do it justice.

It is from the Jessica McClintock Collection (The Romance Collection for Young Ladies). I never even knew she designed furniture, but I have always loved her romantic, dreamy dresses and gowns. The furniture is antique white and matches the new paint color on the walls perfectly. We have four pieces- dresser with hutch, chest, nightstand, and sleigh bed. We ordered the bed now (it didn't have a crib) because I was just worried if we waited, the collection would be discontinued or something and that would break my heart. That always happens to me! We will end up getting a crib, though.

It all fits perfectly into the room as well. We still have the old yucky carpeting in there, but we willbe getting new lighter carpeting after Ken puts new wood in the windowsills and paints them as well. I am thinking I will do pink gingham (the tiniest squares) for curtains. Now will come the fun part of decorating the walls, accessories, etc. It is so lovely to walk by her room and see furniture in there. It seems so real now!

The lighting on the photos seems off- more cream than it actually is- and the recliner is a rosy burgundy color. Anyway, I am thrilled with the funriture!

Meanwhile, it's another snow day today! We are expected to get 6 to 12 inches of snow. I am so tired of it and want spring to arrive. In the meantime, it's time to get cozy!

DTC Group Logo

2007-03-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

Here is one of of our DTC group's logos.

I think it is adorable!

Brown Envelope!

2007-03-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, our brown envelope arrived! I know it's not a big deal whether you get one or not, but it was just SO exciting to receive it! It makes it all seem more real to us somehow. It makes it seem like it will really happen!

Squishalanche!

2007-03-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

I can't believe we are up to 33 squishes already! This makes me so happy! I have decided to only post them in Jade's quilt blog from now on because they take up so much room here. I love each and every one of them and am putting the wishes into Jade's scrapbook as I receive them. I am having so much fun with the swaps!

Two Month Mark

2007-03-03T06:05:00.000-08:00

We have reached the 2 month mark after LID!

Two months went by very quickly.

I can only hope the many remianing months go by just as quickly!

I Can't Resist!

2007-02-26T15:12:00.000-08:00

Every time I make a different kind of square + wish to swap, I can't resist making another for Jade!

Square 14- From Mommy, Daddy, Penny & Bailey

"One sees clearly only with the heart.
Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."
~Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Little Prince

May you always see with your heart-
Love,
Mommy, Daddy,
Penny & Bailey
xoxo

A Four Squish Day!

2007-02-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

I am off from school for yet another snow day and was excited to receive FOUR squishes in the mail today!

Square 10- From Kammy Krisell in Sherwood, Arkansas

This pretty square and wish is from Kammy Krisell in Sherwood, Arkansas. The wish includes really meaningful lyrics from "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, and you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more than you take.
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you,
and wants the same things too,
Yes, this, is my wish.

Square 11- From Jill and Mike Charles in Rochester, New York

This square and wish come from Jill & Mike Charles in Rochester, New York. The wish contains a message from a Chinese fortune cookie:

"It matters not what road we take
but rather what we become on the journey."

Square 11- From Ileanna Bosch in Punta Gorda, Florida

This happy square and wish come from Ileanna Bosch in Punta Gorda, Florida. The fabric is so cute with messages like, "He keeps his promises," "He makes us all special," etc.

The wish contains the following biblical verse:
For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord, plans to prosper you
and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

Square 13- From Susan and Larry Zinn in San Antonio, Texas

This colorful square and wish are from Susan and Larry Zinn in San Antonio, Texas.

The wish has the following quote:
"Believe that life is worth living
and your belief will help create the fact."
~William James

Thanks to all for the beautiful squishes today!

Chinese New Year in New York City

2007-02-26T08:48:00.000-08:00

We had a great weekend in New York City recently for Chinese New Year! We left around noon on Saturday and drove to NYC. We checked into our hotel which was just two blocks from Times Square. We walked around Times Square, bought some CDs at the Virgin Megastore, and went to Rockefeller Center and saw the ice skaters. We then ended up going to a nice dinner at the Heartland Brewery before heading to the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.

The show was beautiful and the colors were amazing. There was one candlelight number with a little girl that made me choke up a little bit.

The next day (Sunday- New Year's Day)- we spent the day in Chinatown. We took a cab to Chinatown and arrived in time for the firecracker demonstration at Chatham Square. It was FREEZING. The firecrackers were a bit scary becasue we were right in the area where they were set off and the smoke, sound, debris, etc. were kind of overwhelming. For a few seconds, I even thought something had gone horribly wrong and all of NYC would explode! They set off the firecrackers to scare away evil spirits. I'm sure it works after having witnessed it!

We shopped around Chinatown- frequently coming across dancing dragons and much confetti in the streets.

We went to a nice lunch at the same place we had been last time we were in NYC for Chinese New Year. It was warm and cozy and we were just happy to be seated quickly and warm ourselves up with some tea! We shopped some more after lunch and then headed to Soho where we shopped in Pearl River. It is amazing for all things Asian! I bought many things for future Secret Pals and for Jade/us.

We then had some wonderful cappucino and dessert at an Italian restaurant before catching a cab back to our hotel. We headed out to see if we could have a drink at Mars 2112 but the bar was closed for the night. We considered having dinner there, but I had my heart set on Charlotte's Web and Chinese take out from our favorite place- Lucky Sunday- in the hotel room! I ate my shrimp with asparagus happily in my pajamas!

The next day, Monday- we headed out to M & M World and then for some hot chocolate before heading to Mars 2112 for lunch. What a fun place! It is a theme restaurant that "transports" you to Mars for your meal. We enjoyed it even though it was pricey.

We headed home and when we arrived back in town, we went to order Jade's furniture for her room. The furniture store was having a great no interest until 2011 option, so we did it!

All in all, it was a great weekend and a LOT of fun!

Thank You, Secret Pals!

2007-02-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

We just want to say a HUGE thank you to our February Secret Pals in the Winter Blossoms group! What a wonderful treat it was to receive their very special package. I had to use all of my willpower and wait for Ken to arrive home to open it with me!

It turned out our pals were Mike and Leanne Rollins from Oklahoma. They sent us a lovely card with a Confucius quote that means so much to us and a heartfelt, handwritten letter as well. A very special touch to their package was the photo they included of their family. All of these things are going right into Jade's scrapbook!

Their gifts were wrapped in red paper for the Chinese New Year. We received a set with Jade's first piggy bank as well as little homes for her first tooth lost and first curl. We also received a wondefully illustrated book on Chinese Astrology. Lastly, we received a book called Mommy Hugs. What made this extra special was that at Christmas, I bought Ken the partner to it (Daddy Kisses). Now we have a set!

Thanks, Leanne and Mike! You are truly special Secret Pals!

Another Squish

2007-02-24T15:49:00.000-08:00

Square 9- From the Amick family in Marietta, Georgia

This pretty square and wish come from Erik, Christine, Alexia, and Caleb Amick in Marietta, Georgia. The wish says:

May you always appreciate the beauty of nature,
be surrounded with those that love you,
grow in wisdom and knowledge
and live a life without any wants.

More Squishes!

2007-02-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

It is so exciting to receive new squishes!

Square 6- From the Hurtgen Family in Centennial, Colorado

This adorable square and wish are from Mike, Ashley, Tyler, Will & Peter Hurtgen in Centennial, CO. The wish says:

"For it was not into my ear you whispered
but into my heart.
It was not into my lips you kissed
but my soul."
~Judy Garland

Blessing while you wait for your little one-

I think the quote is just beautiful.

Square 7- From the Bowman Family in Ladson, South Carolina

This wish and square are from Keith and Sheila Bowman of Ladson, SC. The wish says:

I wish for you in the days to come
God's blessings multiplied
And that you see in every one
His love for you beside.

I love the message and the colors of the fabric are so pretty!

Square 8- From the Lozoraitis Family in Falmouth, Maine

This square and wish come from Mark, Cheri, and Emily Grace Lozoraitis in Falmouth, Maine.
The wish is so beautiful and powerful:

May your heart always know
the fierce love, unyielding determination,
and everlasting hope
that carried you so many miles
into the loving arms
of this family.

A sincere thank you for all of our new squishes today!

Quilt Square Central

2007-02-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

The quilting fun has begun! I am having great fun assembling squares and wishes for others. Of course, every time I make a new kind for somebody else, I have to make one of that kind for Jade from us. So far she has three from us! Today, however, I received my first two from others! What fun! Here are the squares so far:

Square 1- From Mommy, Daddy, Penny & Bailey (furry siblings)

“Sometimes,
if you stand
on the bottom rail of a bridge
and lean over
to watch the river
slipping slowly away beneath you,
you will suddenly know
everything there is to be known.”
~Winnie the Pooh

Wishing you many moments of
knowing exactly what life is all about…

Square 2- Also from Mommy, Daddy, Penny & Bailey

"Be glad of life
because it gives you the chance
to live and to work and to play
and to look up at the stars."
~Henry Van Dyke

May your life be filled with much wonder,
magic, and wishes upon stars...

Square 3- From the Louie Family in Centennial, Colorado

This pretty fabric and wish come from Tamra, Jeff, Tyler & Morgan Louie in Colorado. It has the lyrics to "Somewhere Out There" which is just so perfect. Underneath, it says:

After many nights of wishing on the same bright star, may all your dreams come true as a Forever Family. I love this wish!

Square 4- From the Geddis Family in Greenwich, New York

This adorable fabric and very artsy wish comes from Lance & Carol Geddis in New York. The fabric is so cute, and the wish is just so pretty! It says:

"Every moment holds a hidden gift."

Square 5- Also from Mommy, Daddy, Penny & Bailey

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse.
"It's a thing that happens to you.
When a child really loves you for a long, long time,
not just to play with, but REALLY loves you,
then you become Real.
Generally, by the time you are Real,
most of your hair has been loved off…
and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.
But these things don't matter at all,
because once you are Real you can't be ugly,
except to people who don't understand."

~Margery Williams
The Velveteen Rabbit
May you always understand what is Real…

I am excited to get more squishes in the mail. It truly is exciting! I will post about our Chinese New Year's weekend in New York City once our film is developed and I can post photos. We had a wonderful time! We also ordered Jade's furniture on the way home! It had to be special ordered, so it should be here in abotu 8 weeks. I just want her room to look more like "hers."

100 Good Wishes Quilt

2007-02-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

I have decided to do a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt, for Jade. I've signed up for quilt swaps in my various yahoo groups and am looking forward to getting started. One hundred squares seems like so many...I just hope I can reach it! When the time comes to assemble it into a quilt, I think I am going to have to hire someone to do that. I think I'd just make a mess of it! However, I don't want Jade to not have this special keepsake just because of my poor fabric skills, so I'm going to give it a shot!

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.

"She must offer the child as an adopted son, by symbol, to other powerful families in her clan. Yet what friends had she? She thought and she pondered and she devised this plan. From the head of each of the highest one hundred families in the Empire, she required a bolt of the finest silk. From the silks she commanded the palace tailors to cut one hundred small pieces and from these make a robe for her child. Thus he belonged, by symbol, to one hundred strong and noble families, and under their shelter the gods would fear to harm him."
~Imperial Woman (about the final Empress of the Qing dynasty) by Pearl S. Buck

Some Beautiful China Images

2007-02-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

Snow Day!

2007-02-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

We are off today due to the incredible storm hitting our area. The snow just keeps coming down, and they have just closed all of the interstate highways in our county. Some boroughs are declaring states of emergency. We may have no school tomorrow as well at this rate!

Happy Valentine's Day to all! I am spending it without Ken, unfortunately, as he is at work plowing snow!

Pan's Labyrinth

2007-02-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

We went to see Pan's Labyrinth yesterday. I found it very charming, magical, and haunting. It was a bit of a downer, but I thought it was well-made and visually stunning. It's definitely worth watching for anyone who likes fantasy, magic, or the dark side. Watch the trailer at:
http://www.panslabyrinth.com/

Pan's Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended together into an extraordinary, spellbinding fable. Told through the eyes of a little girl whose imaginary world is inhabited by nightmarish creatures, Pan's Labyrinth is a visually imaginative and allegorical take on the fears she faced in Spain during WWII.

Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, PAN'S LABYRINTH is a thrilling, violent fairy tale set in post-Civil War Spain. Ivana Baquero stars as Ofelia, a young girl who moves with her mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), into the home of Captain Vidal (Sergi López), in an abandoned mill in the middle of dark, dangerous woods. Vidal is leading his team of soldiers against resistance fighters--and he will do whatever is necessary to kill every last one of them. As Vidal bosses around the pregnant Carmen, a flying creature leads Ofelia through a garden labyrinth and into an underground cave ruled by Pan (HELLBOY's Doug Jones), who believes that Ofelia might be the lost princess of this strange yet magical place. To prove she is royalty, Ofelia must complete three tasks, each more difficult and terrifying than the previous one.

Meanwhile, Vidal is becoming more and more paranoid, torturing and murdering seemingly at will. Del Toro (THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, HELLBOY, CRONOS) creates a marvelous battle between good and evil, between heroes and villains, in both the real world aboveground and the mystical land below. Baquero gives a compelling performance as the terrorized Ofelia, who is befriended by Mercedes (Maribel Verdú), a woman who harbors some secrets of her own. Stellar production design, superb special effects, and a stirring score by Javier Navarrete add to the scary fun. Selected as the closing-night entry in the 2006 New York Film Festival, PAN'S LABYRINTH is a captivating story that is not for the squeamish.

Happy February!

2007-02-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

All is well. I feel so busy lately, and I'm not sure why. It sometimes feels like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything finished. Hopefully, when we have Jade, I'll just focus on her and won't care about everything else I didn't finish!

We did go away to see Rockstar Supernova in concert last weekend. Tommy Lee was just as cute in person! The venue was great. It was the old Chevrolet Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut. I loved it. It was a drive, but I would definitely go there again for other shows. On Sunday, we went to the Danbury Mall on the way home and ate at a great place there, Rosy Tomorrow's. It was a blast from the past because we used to go there a lot in the early 1990s when Ken was in the Navy stationed in Connecticut. I was so excited to get their shrimp and asparagus salad only to find 4 spears of asparagus in it! I know-it's not breaking news, but wow, it disappointed me. I fear I am becoming an asparagus addict.

We are looking forward to our next trip to New York City for Chinese New Year.

My sister went on a business trip to Seattle and she brought us back the most adorable outfit for Jade. She bought it at the Pike Place Market from a shop there called Little Shanghai. It is an adorable red Chinese outfit with little dragonflies all over it. It's so beautiful!

Now...I must go and do schoolwork!

What's Going On

2007-01-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

We had our first snow day yesterday! It was quite a surprise actually. I complained all of December that we didn't have any, yet when I got the call yesterday, I was kind of disappointed. I don't think I want any snow days!

We went to see Freedom Writers yesterday, and I really enjoyed it. As a teacher, I think I need movies like that every now and again. They make me feel like the job I do really is important. It's so easy to lose sight of that in the day to day job of it all. I hope I am still making some kind of difference.

Last week, we saw Night at the Museum, and I really got a kick out of that one. I tend to like any movie with Ben Stiller or either of the Wilson brothers! I also liked the premise- I always wondered if dolls, etc. came to life at night when no one was around, so this sort of ties right in to that.

We are going away next weekend to see Supernova- Tommy Lee's new band- in concert. We also made plans to go to New York City for Chinese New Year. We are going to see the Chinese New Year Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.

The CCAI yahoo group to which I belong is starting the Secret Pal exchange, and I am VERY excited about that. I've already started shopping! The theme is Chinese New Year/Year of the Pig for February.

That's about all the news at the moment! Hope all is well with everyone!

We are LID!

2007-01-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

We were just notified today by CCAI that we have our LID and it is 12-31-06! We didn't know while celebrating New Year's Eve that we were logged in that day! What a New Year's celebration that would have been! I am also happy we are logged in for 2006 because it just "sounds" earlier than 2007 (mind game, I know), but it also saves us from paying the extra fee after January 1. We are going to have some celebratory Chinese food tonight!

My Two Little Girls

2007-01-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

This is our yearly Christmas morning shot...the girls and me. They are pretty excited already about Jade. We know this because every time they go in her room, they are constantly trying to get things from her shelves. It's their way of saying, "We love Jade, so we will show that by chewing up all of her toys." Arrrgghhh! It's a good thing they have me wrapped around their little fingers...err...paws!

We hung some very special ornaments on the tree this year. My friend Linda gave me the beautiful panda ornament for Christmas. It was a truly wonderful gift.

Happy New Year to all!

2007-01-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

May it be a year of quick referrals!

Happy Birthday

2006-12-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Dad.

I wish you were here.