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Friday, April 24, 2009

Happy Blogiversary to me!

I hadn't realized until just a few weeks ago that today is the anniversary of my first post here on Faith, Hope & Poop? I can't believe it has been a year already...

Travel back in time with me for a moment...

One year ago-I was very nervous about doing this & hadn't even told anyone that I was blogging. I typed several posts before I felt confident enough to let "real life" people read it & even then it was only a small handful. I was not at all nervous about "strangers" reading it just people I knew. I hadn't typed anything terrible about anyone, but just wasn't sure how my writing style would come across-if I came across idiotic, I just didn't want people I knew to know it :) but lucky for me they liked it & so my train of blog thoughts continues...

One year later-I am much more confident about this "blogging stuff" & love knowing that both people I know & don't know are reading it.

One year ago-I thought maybe this blog would be more of an outlet for my thoughts on adoption related things.

One year later-It has been a little about that, but more so about my life & its happenings in general with a little of the adoption stuff tossed in occasionally.

One year ago-We were still adjusting to the idea of actually having a child in our house, loving him, watching him grow & learning with him as he grew.

And as for the biggest news...
One year later-We are still doing all of those same things, but we are now adjusting to the idea of possibly having 2 children (hopefully) very, very soon if all goes according to plan. That's right, we've been working on adoption #2 (due to arrive in early June!) Keep birthmom & the baby in your prayers & your fingers crossed for us :)

Thanks for joining my on my blogging adventures over this past year!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

What Sweethearts!

Yesterday, I was watching one of my classes for a little bit while the classroom teacher was working with a couple of students outside of the room. Meanwhile, another teacher showed up to teach a character development lesson to the class. I was dealing with a couple of students who were needing to go to the nurse, use the bathroom, etc so my attention was diverted when she began her lesson. When I was able to pay attention again, I heard...

Other teacher: "Look kids, you have a 'new' teacher in the room this week. Should we show her what we learned about ourselves?"
I am beginning to wonder what I have gotten myself into at this point.
Other teacher continuing: "Will you look in this mirror & tell us 3 things that you see about yourself on the outside?"
Me: "Okay...a smile."
O.T.: "Oh good! Kids did you hear that a smile, can you see it?"
Kids: "YES!"
O.T.: "Okay, what else, 2 more things?"
Me: "Uhh...glasses & brown hair?"
O.T.: "Yes good! Kids, she said glasses & brown hair. Those are all things that we see on the outside, now can you kids tell her what you see on the inside." (about 1/2 the hands go up immediately)
Oh no! I have to admit I felt a little anxious at this point only because you never know what kids will say...
Kid #1: "She is a lovable teacher!"
Kid #2: "She is fun!"
Kid #3: "She is a huggable teacher!"
Kid #4: "She is funny!"
Kid #5: "She cares about us!"
Me: "Gee, thanks everyone!"

Let me just stop hear & say that my heart did a big AAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
at this point!

O.T.: "That's great kids so you're telling me that she is beautiful on the inside too. Can you tell this 'new' teacher in your classroom what we have learned about her & ourselves then?"
Kids: "WE'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL ON BOTH THE INSIDE & THE OUTSIDE!"

Then to top it all off, later that day, flowers (did you see my Wordless Wednesday post) appeared on my desk from my "Secret Pal" at school (it's like a "Secret Santa" but all school year long.)
What can I say except that it was a nice day & I felt very appreciated & special! Thanks!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

ICLW days are here again!

Welcome & Happy ICLW week to all of my fellow bloggers out there!

I can't wait to read all of the comments left this week & I especially can't wait to read & comment on your blogs. I love hopping around the blogosphere & reading new or different blogs that I may not normally read regularly!

I hope you like what you read here & come back to visit often & if anyone would like to learn more about ICLW just click on that pretty box over there on the left side :)

Happy Reading!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Garage Sale Pro, not so much...

I like garage sale shopping, but I have to say I don't feel very adept at it.

Our local city-wide garage sale was held on Saturday & I took part once again as I have several times before. I had mentioned trying to go with one of my friends, but decided against it since I was looking for "big" items. I figured that if I happened to find the things I was looking for that there would be no room for her things (& that wouldn't be very polite now would it! :)

So began my bargain hunting...

The first stop was successful-I found an outdoor slide, which is Luke's first official "outside" toy! (I know, some of you may be thinking-isn't he approaching 2 years old? Yes, but because of some of his motor delays he wasn't even hardly moving around on his own until he was almost 1 & so he wouldn't have gotten much use out of anything last summer.)
The pathetic part of this stop was my haggling expertise-I am not a haggler, but for some reason I decided to try it here. Keep in mind that this sale wasn't even "officially" open yet so the lady could have totally laughed me away!
Me: Will you take $10 for the slide?
The Lady: What does the sticker say?
Me: (starting to feel guilty) It says 12, but I just wondered if you would take 10.
The Lady: (contemplating) Well...[interuppted by me]
Me: (feeling really guilty now) Oh, it's okay, (sounding flustered) if you want 12, that's fine...I just thought I'd try haggling...I'm not much of a haggler really (pathetic!)
The Lady: No, $10 is fine.
Me: Are you sure? Thanks (super PATHETIC, but I did get the deal in the end while just losing a little bit of self respect & backbone! :)

My adventures continued as I cruised around town...

I have lived in this area for almost 6 years now & have to admit that I still don't really know the town very well. So I am cruising around trying to find the garage sales & I traveled up & down several streets without seeing any sales or if I did-it was a little one not really worth stopping for.
I kept racking my brain trying to remember where the "good" sales were that I had been to before in the fall & last spring, but I truly believe that all of the streets somehow get turned around in between sales because I am never able to locate them again or if I do-it is AFTER they have been well picked over since everyone else knows how to find them from the start ;)

Needless to say, I did find "enough" of what I was looking for this time around & who cares if most of it came from that very first garage sale & the (last) garage sale where I just happened to be trying to sell a few things myself...the fun is all in the hunting, right?!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

All You Need for a Relaxing Afternoon...

1-19 1/2 month old toddler + 1 fun filled day at the babysitters + 1-20 to 30 min nap =

1 very "relaxing" afternoon for mom & dad filled with lots of "fun" toddler screaming!

P.S. The upside: zero problems when it came to BEDTIME! :)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

General 2009 Resolution Updates

I had originally intended to do this about once a month, but it looks like it may be more like once every few months :)

Anyway, as far as the resolutions go, I would say I am doing okay-not great, not terrible, just okay.

My first resolution was to lose 40 lbs this year & increase my activity. The weight has been coming off, but unfortunately the exercise hasn't really been increasing. So far this year, I have lost approximately 15 lbs (yay!), which means I am slightly over 1/3 of the way to my goal for the year. I have lost 35 lbs overall since last summer, which means I am approaching the 1/2 way mark of my "ultimate" goal (yay again!)
Exercise has been a bit more difficult-I was doing okay for awhile despite the cold weather, but the last month has been rough with the last few weeks filled with illnesses (strep throat, well for about a week, then terrible head cold) that have basically kind of knocked me on my rear. I am hopeful that with the warmer weather that is bound to hit one of these days & school coming to an end in a few weeks that I will be more motivated to get moving.

My second resolution was to read 40 books this year-I have finished 10 books & am currently working on the 11th book so this one is going fairly well & is definitely NOT a problem to complete :)

My third resolution was to take 1 picture a day every single day this year. I started out so well, but life got in the way & this one has fallen by the wayside for now. I have probably averaged a picture a day, but that is only because of lots of pictures taken on a few different days not a picture taken each day. Let's just say that this resolution may need to wait until next year or at the earliest this summer.

My fourth & last resolution was to do one nice thing a day for a different person each day. Have I done nice things everyday? Yes, I think so. Has it been because I have made a conscious effort to do it because of my resolution? No, not at all. I am definitely going to need to do a better job with this one from this point on, especially considering it is probably the easiest one to do everyday! :)

There you have it-the good, the bad & the just plain old ugly truths about my 2009 resolutions! Hopefully, the next update will bring loads of better news! ;)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

"You Light Up My Life" Sunday 4/12/09


This person knew me before I was born.
This person loves me unconditionally.
This person understands the true meaning of love.
This person has set a great example for how I should live my life.
This person is always near.
This person has always shown me how to handle any pain I have experienced in my life.
This person makes me think about how I treat others.
This person is a great teacher.
This person is the basis for many of the things I believe.
He has shown me that life here on Earth is only the beginning not the end!

So, here's to you, Jesus~I love ya & am thankful for all that you have done & given us!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Easter Scrooge

This term was lovingly placed upon me by several people last year, but what can I say~Easter just doesn't really float my boat that much. Now don't get me wrong-I like the church/religious side of the holiday. I think the services/celebrations are beautiful & when I am attending on Holy Thursday/Good Friday/Easter Sunday, it always renews within me a deep faith & appreciation for life & what I believe, but...

And this is my biggest issue with Easter...

I just don't "get" the commercial side of Easter.

Oh, sure, I enjoy the candy & it was always great to wake up to a nice basket (or as my husband says "it's a plastic bucket, not a basket!") full of candy, but...

Easter bunnies that lay/bring eggs-who decided that was a great idea? I just don't see how anyone ever thought that those two things would go together-the idea of an Easter chicken must not have been as appealing.

Which leads to-why can't this Easter bunny just leave the eggs in one place like Santa Clause does with the presents? Why are we constantly having to hunt for our eggs? I totally admit to a deep dislike for egg hunting...maybe it's because I was never very good at it & always seemed to be the last one left looking...maybe I just don't get the point. Plus, it seems like everyone under the sun has an Easter egg hunt. I am okay with family egg hunts, but taking Luke & any future children to a gazillion 'community' egg hunts just isn't going to happen-sorry!

Dyeing eggs? Why? You go to all of that hard work & then what do you do with them-crack the pretty eggshell & throw it away.

So, am I an Easter scrooge? Religionwise-No Way! Commercialwise-you better believe it!
Will I try to push my attitude onto Luke? No-in fact, I think the Easter bunny will find Luke this year (technically, he didn't last year, but in our defense-Luke was only about 7 months old & didn't really care or know what was going on, however, he might if he ever reads this post someday! :) & Luke will get to "participate" in egg dyeing & I know that he will also be participating in a couple of egg hunts (but only at family gatherings) so no need to worry-this Easter Scrooge will do her best not to "scrooge up" everyone else's Easters! :)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

What's Your Word?

I took this quiz a while back & have been saving my answer for a slow blogging day :) So, here it is, what's my word...

"Peace"

You see life as precious, and you wish everyone was safe, happy, and taken care of.
Social justice, human rights, and peace for all nations are all important to you.
While you can't stop war, you try to be as calm and compassionate as possible in your everyday life.
You promote harmony and cooperation. You're always willing to meet someone a little more than halfway.

I think it describes me fairly well, now what's your word? Leave me a comment if you take it :)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

"You Light Up My Life" Sunday 4/5/09 edition


This person is a super friend!
This person can always make me laugh!
It is a bit scary just HOW much we think alike.
She can always find time for a "venting" session whenever I need one & knows that I always do the same for her.
I am glad that she is tall like me-it's good to have someone else to "stick out" above the crowd with when we go dancing with friends. :)
I may be the "instigator" in our little group of friends, but she is definitely the one who is always willing to take on my ideas!
I love how open & honest she is with people, even when it may be difficult to do.
She definitely gives me more courage just by being around her.
She is a great mom, sister, daughter, friend, teacher, etc.
She is a person who I know I can always count on & that says a lot all by itself!

So to my friend, Sheryl, here's to you~I love ya!

Friday, April 3, 2009

I Swear!

And many times I don't even realize I'm doing it! It is a very good thing that I work with little kids all day long who can catch me at my worst moments...

(Reading a book to Kindergartners)

Me: "That's a funny word, what do you think it means?"

Blank stares followed & then all of a sudden a little girl raises her hand...

Little girl: "I think maybe silly..."

Me: "Yes, that's right, it means silly or funny"

(interrupting) Little boy: "OOHHH! You cussed!"

Me: "Excuse me? I did not."

Little boy: "Yes you did-I heard it! You cussed!"

Me: "All I said was that it meant silly or funny. I did not say any cuss words." (And of course the whole time I am trying to avoid asking him what he thought I said because I didn't need a whole carpet full of kindergartners repeating whatever it was that he thought I said...)

Little boy: "No, you said it before that."

Me: (really confused now) What? Ok well moving on, back to the story...

I proceed to reread the part that I had just read to them before I stopped to ask the question, when all of a sudden I see the offensive word...it was the word I had asked them to tell me the meaning of...RIDICULOUS (if you say it real slow, you can hear the "cuss word" in the middle!)

So much for me trying to set a good example :) & so much for hoping that maybe little kids can remain naive for a little longer in this day & age!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Books, Books, Books!

I've been reading like a crazy lady this month & can now add #'s 8, 9, & 10 to my list for the year!
All 3 were fantastic books & here are some of my thoughts on each.

Book # 8: Legacy of Silence by Belva Plain

I am always a sucker for a "family saga" book where the reader follows a family through several generations. I enjoyed following Caroline & her daughters Eve & Jane (who were born almost 20 years apart) through their lives along with Caroline's sister, Lore. The ending left me feeling a little sad for "what could have been" for all of them, but it was also the ending that tied all of the events & their effects in the whole story together. Thanks to my MIL for recommending it!

Book # 9: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Oh, Harry Potter, I have been going on for the last 4 books about not "getting" what all of the fuss has been about, but you have finally sucked me in & I can honestly say that I get in now. Maybe it is because Harry isn't such a naive character anymore. Maybe it is because this book felt a little deeper in order to grab hold of an adult's interest. I do have to admit that I wasn't too sure about the "darker" Harry & didn't completely enjoy all of the angst he was feeling, but it did make for a story that I found very hard to put down! Book #6~here I come (as soon as I can get this one returned to my sister :)

Book # 10: A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

I liked this story even though I did have the hit-and-run driver pegged within the first few chapters (I tend to like having more of a challenge). I also found this book very hard to put down & really enjoyed the characters. I also have to say that I have read a few of Nicholas Sparks's books & I just KNEW that somebody was going to have to die, but I wasn't sure who & I really didn't want it to be any of these characters whom I had really enjoyed. Thankfully, this time around~no one died on me, except of course the main character's, Miles, first wife which is the event that sets this whole story in motion, but that has all already happened once you've started reading the story.

All in all, I'd say 3 big thumbs up for these books!