Reflecting...

For as long as I can remember I have been a person who is ‘status quo’. I don’t do well with impromptu situations. I like a ‘plan’ for everything. I guess it is all part of my ‘Monk~isms’. I am happy when all things are smooth, steady, and ordered.

Shocked? I know my actions the last couple of years wouldn’t lead you to believe that I am that type of person. I would have bet money (lots of money) against someone who told me I was going to do some of things I have done over the last few years ~ I would have never believed them.

In the past I would have never:
-dreamt of traveling half way around the world one day to meet my daughter. (God willing). I have never been west of the Mississippi. I DON’T (didn't) travel far from home. But DANG I’m ready to go to China!!

-done a crazy thing like get in a car at 10:00 at night with a stranger. Drive to another stranger’s house, and then go with these two strangers all the way to Detroit and meet a third stranger. What the Hell was I thinking?

-gotten in the car, drive to some remote location in Georgia, to meet a group of women. Most of whom I didn’t know and the only thing we all had in common is that we are all adopting from China.

July, 2007

-gone back to Georgia a few months later and have one of the BEST weekends of my life with her and her. Firewood and asparagus will never ever be the same to me.

-Drive three hours every chance I can to spend a large quantity of time at Starbucks because time there with friends is priceless.

Nope I never would have believed any of this was possible. My family thinks I am crazy for meeting ‘Internet’ people. Knowing what I know now ~ I am so glad I stepped out of my little bubble. What a journey this continues to be.

Good Golly! This post was supposed to be a post about new dishes and how the change isn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I must be in a sentimental mood. Dishes seem rather trivial now. I think I will just let this be. I’ll tell you about the new dishware another time. :o)

I've Been Dared!

Last weekend I spent a wonderful day with Sandra. I was telling her about a purchase I made for polar cub. I didn’t blog about it because, even though I was excited about it, I didn’t think anyone would really be interested in my find. It’s not a super fancy exciting deal. Would you believe this very good friend of mine then DARED me to blog about it? Being the competitive person that I am ~ here’s the post.

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a diaper bag. It was a big deal for a couple of reasons. First it was the first purchase for polar cub we’ve made in a long, LONG time. It felt strange, but exciting. I haven’t wanted a lot of baby things around just in case all of this ‘just doesn’t happen’.

Secondly I have been dreading buying the diaper bag so when I saw this one and both Big Bear and I agreed on it, it was a relief. The dread came from the fact that I don’t carry a bag. I know I will need one, but it has been so hard to find one I like plus a bag that Big Bear will carry too. I really didn’t want to buy two diaper bags. I also knew I didn’t want to spend lots of money on a bag that will spend more time in the car than anywhere else.

Big Bear and I were at Target looking for a baby gift for a friend. For whatever reason this bag caught my eye. I think because it was brown. It’s big and roomy. I like the brown, it will work for either a boy or a girl. Just everything about it seemed right. We bought it.

The picture is from the Target sight. The bag we purchased is stored away. There isn’t the suede panel on our bag, it’s all brown, but everything else is the same. Simple, functional, perfect.

There you go my friend ~ Challenge ~ COMPLETED!

I Voted...

For the first time EVER I voted for a contestant on American Idol!!

Chris Allen's song really 'spoke to' me.

I DO NOT get this one. He would be really good on the radio because he can sing, but -IN MY OPINION - he is hard to watch!

For the first time ever I'm really excited about this show tonight.

Maybe it is because I VOTED!!! :o)

Favorite Time of Year...

It is my students favorite time of the school year, at least in my class. They begin asking on the first day of school if we can do 'it' again. They talk about this all year long. They talk about their person; they talk smack to each other, all in good fun!

What are we doing? We are following the “Last Great Race” ~ The Iditarod!It is amazing to see students get so excited about this every year. Two weeks before the start of the race they pick a musher and do a little research. I have them write a Bio-poem about their musher. NO ONE complains about having to write this poem. They love it. SHOCK!!We keep track of the race with the Bio-Poems.

By the time the race starts we are ready. The kids come into the classroom before the bell rings (shocking) to be the first on a computer. They have to check their musher’s standings and chart it. We watch daily video feeds, and throughout the day kids will stop in to see if ‘their’ musher is on a video yet. :o) They are graphing, charting, discussing, writing, reading, and some even look up their musher at home at night. All of this makes me one very happy teacher! I wish there was a way to get them this engaged all year round.

I know, and understand, that there are many different feelings about this race. We do discuss this in class. It is a very interesting discussion every year. I have never seen this race in person, but watching the videos of the dogs you can see how happy and excited they are. The health and welfare of the dogs is very important to many involved. You can tell that the mushers love these dogs and the sport. I am sure that there are bad mushers out there, but hopefully the strict regulations will keep them out of the event. Please don’t flame. Thank you.
The kids are already askingto do this again next year. Several students have already called the same person for next year. I never say absolutely yes until it gets closer to the start. The anticipation is part of the fun. (Mean aren’t I?)

Catching up...

It’s been a while since my last post, so I thought I should check in.

--I am so excited for my friend PIPO!! She is in China right now with her absolutely, beautiful little girl PIPA. I get all teary every time I look at this picture. They look PERFECT together!


--I am sad about this months number of referrals. If things keep going at this rate it will be another 15 months before it is our turn. To think that would mean we would have to do our paperwork AGAIN is almost more than I can comprehend!

--My buds that missed the cut off this month you have been in my thoughts. I hope you know that. I can’t begin to imagine the frustration you must be feeling.

--Speaking of our paperwork, there has been a small little situation with ours. All I am going to say is, if this hold up keeps us from being able to keep our I797C I will be one extremely upset person. (Because I don’t know who reads this blog I don’t want to go into details here.) I can’t begin to tell you how tired I am of this bull snot!

--The colds and flu going around are terrible!! Most of my classes have been half full because so many kids are out sick. I was out most of last week with strep throat. I can’t remember the last time I had strep. It was as miserable as I remember.

--My mom is going in for gall bladder surgery tomorrow. I know all will be fine, but if you don’t mind sending a good thought.

--I’ve decided to start a food blog. You can find it HERE. I have wanted to post some things, but I feel guilty posting food here, don’t know why, just do. Stop by and let me know what you think.
Those are all of the ramblings I can thing of right now.