Twice Tagged!!

Looks like I've been tagged twice! So, the rules are:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
Amy
Nancy
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random facts about yourself.
4.Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged.
6. Let the taggers know when your entry is up.

Even though I've been tagged twice, I'm not going to give 12 random facts...6 will have to do (although I'm pretty sure I could come up with 12). So...random facts....

1. My first date with Mike was a blind date, double date...with MY PARENTS!! To make matters even more embarassing I was 32 years old! This was after my parents spent the 5 prior years trying to set us up! (I should've listened to my parents, a long time ago!)

2. My feet are constantly dry and scaly...despite all attempts to make them soft!! Random...I know!

3. I HATE HATE HATE talking on the phone!! I don't like to answer it, I don't like to talk on it, I don't even like to hear it ring!! Funny how life changes have forced me to stare at the phone trying to force it to ring!!! If only...

4. I have the best parking karma ever! I always get the best parking spots! The flip side...I hit EVERY single red light!

5. I used to be a Portland TrailBlazer Dancer. I used to be embarassed admitting this, but now I LONG to be able to fit into those outfits again!!

6. And for the most embarassing fact... I seem to give my pets numerous nicknames...and they each have their own personal theme song that I sing to them! (If you know me, this is VERY embarassing as I CANNOT sing at all!!)

Now it's time to tag 6 others:
Marissa
Joanne
Gillian
Sandy
Stephanie
Ineke

Hurry up and W..A...I...T...!

Hurry up and wait...hurry up and wait...hurry up and wait! Such is the life of international adoption. We thought we had finished our final cycle of "Hurry Up" and that we were just in the last "Wait" phase...when we got a call from our agency saying that the judge was requesting another Home Study update (yes...that would be 2 updates, now). Needless to say, I thought the world was coming to an end. Luckily, Mike was optimistic saying "At least we know the judge has looked at our papers and they aren't sitting in the corner". True, true...so, with the help of Mike and my family, I pulled myself together and pressed on and entered the next round of Hurry Up...except of course--we had to wait. Our social worker was out of town. Finally... we got the update yesterday (hurry up, hurry up!) and we were excited that Mike would be able to take it to get it apostilled at the Capitol today (hurry up, hurry up!). We decided we'd go ahead and pay the $60 per page apostille fee for our 6 new documents (hurry up, hurry up), just so we could get the documents sent off and it might get Brady home quicker. So, Mike made the trek up the capitol stairs (hurry up, hurry up!) and low and behold, the governmental offices are now working 4 - 10 days....yes, that means they were closed today!! (Is that the sound of screeching brakes?) Ah yes...time to wait...and wait...and wait.... This means we won't be able to send the papers until Monday, which is really Tuesday in Russia...factor in the travel time, and translating time and what do you get? Yes, MORE "wait, wait, wait". Am I cynical? Maybe...I guess it was time...I've experienced every other emotion possible on this journey...why not cyncism?

So, we have immersed ourselves in other activities to keep our minds and hearts from screaming...
I've decided to get back into ballet classes. It has been wonderful, but I can barely walk right now. I guess I should have taken it easy my first day back, but of course not, I had to go full steam ahead and I've been sore since!
Mike's project has been finishing a room in our basement, complete with wiring (Thanks Dolan), sheetrocking (Thanks Larry, Tom, and Ian), and now mud and tape (thanks Tom!). Looking good, isn't it?
We've also been excited that The Office is back on!! (And Survivor & the Amazing Race). All of these things have helped keep our minds busy, but I don't think anything will ease that ache of missing Bradyn...

Third Times A Charm...Right?

Can you say 3 showers?? Yes, we've had 3 showers!!! We are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives, who care for us so much! On Friday, my 2nd Grade team of Teachers threw me a baby shower! I'm so lucky to work at a school that has such supportive, caring, and wonderful people! Everyone was so generous, and once again I am overwhelmed by the excitement, care, and support of SO many people! These are the people who see me, day in and day out, and experience on a daily basis, the range of emotions that I go through since I started this journey. They've given me hope when I wondered if I'd ever get a referral. They've shared in my exhuberant excitement when I finally got the call to meet our little one. And now, they hold me up, when I think I can't go on with another day of waiting! Thanks to all of you! To add to the excitement of the day, my Mom and sister, were in town and came to the shower with me. It was nice to have them there to experience another celebration for Bradyn and to have some girl time while Mike was out of town.

So, now that I've had 3 showers...shouldn't that be the charm that brings on the court dates? I know that the court dates will come when it is God's will...but I love looking for meaning in everything. The fact that this was the 3rd shower isn't the only "3"...This was the 3rd baby shower at our school...the last 2 showers ended with the mothers going into labor that night. Also, It has been 3 months since we saw Bradyn. Today will be the Green Bay Packers 3rd game. We have 3 animals in the house...so, now all we need is Bradyn and then we have 3 humans in our house!! And....I'm really hoping that our court date will be in 3 weeks! Okay, okay, I know this may all be far-fetched, but it's fun none the less!!

A Pirate's Life For Me!!

My sisters, Tami and Jody, decided to throw me a baby shower, but not your typical baby shower. Since Bradyn is a toddler and his room is decorated with a PIrate theme, they decided to throw me a Pirate Shower! They decorated the house with cobwebs, pirate flags, treasure chests (complete with jewels), pirate cake, and even foggy grog (dried ice in juice). When we arrived we could hear pirate music playing! To top things off, we all dressed up as pirates! Even my little nieces were dressed up! For those of you who know my fear of birds, you will be shocked to know that as part of my outfit, I wore a parrot on my shoulder!! To add to the ensemble, I had tattoos of my boys on my arm. We had an absolute blast! Bradyn was showered with so much love...if only he were here to experience it. My dad and sister made and painted a chair like one of the chairs in Bradyn's Baby Home, so he will have a little bit of Russia with him. Even Mike got to join in the festivities at the end of the evening. Thank you Tami and Jody for giving us such a fun shower! Thanks to everyone for making it so special! Aargh!