After our visit to the Science Center, we headed over to Tana for some really tasty Ethiopian food. The girls loved the injera and I was able to add another couple of words to my Amharic repertoire. A great time was had by all!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
She blinded me with Science!
Last weekend Aimee, the girls and I were finally able to get away from it all. We took a short drive to Pittsburgh and made a mini-getaway out of visiting the Carnegie Science Center. The girls had a lot of fun and I think the moms had a great time just getting away and not feeling so stifled or cramped in our everyday surroundings. Jacinda loved the Science Center. She was in awe of many of the exhibits and whispered excitedly "Who knew...what a great surprise!" This totally cracked me up!
After our visit to the Science Center, we headed over to Tana for some really tasty Ethiopian food. The girls loved the injera and I was able to add another couple of words to my Amharic repertoire. A great time was had by all!
After our visit to the Science Center, we headed over to Tana for some really tasty Ethiopian food. The girls loved the injera and I was able to add another couple of words to my Amharic repertoire. A great time was had by all!
Monday, March 8, 2010
SUNSHINE
I finally see the sun...the white snow is melting away and I am so excited to be able to see some green and feel the warm rays on my face!
I love the spring...it is a promise of all things new and rebirth. I can't wait to see the flowers blooming, the birds singing and the days getting longer.
And just like mother nature for whatever reason...I really do feel like I am on the verge of reblooming after a season of winter all my own.
And I can't wait to see the beauty that is waiting to unfold.
I love the spring...it is a promise of all things new and rebirth. I can't wait to see the flowers blooming, the birds singing and the days getting longer.
And just like mother nature for whatever reason...I really do feel like I am on the verge of reblooming after a season of winter all my own.
And I can't wait to see the beauty that is waiting to unfold.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Three Friends
My junior year of college...I met two freshmen and quickly developed a soft spot for them and the crazy messes that they were! And somehow I pulled my BFF Aimee along for the ride. These two freshmen were the sweetest, kindest and craziest kids I had ever met. I will never forget on my 21st birthday the pair made me a mix tape (kind of like a compilation CD for you youngins out there!) that made me cry. The two pledged our sorority and were a lot of fun to be around, even when they did need Aimee and I to rescue them!
However they didn't return for the sophomore year and so they were absent during my last year of college. We lost touch with them, but I often fondly thought of the twosome.
Years later, one of these friends re-entered the canvas of my life. She had gotten married and was living in Hawaii. It was a hoot. Sadly we lost touch again but through facebook reconnect last year. I was still waiting for a court date and had mentioned a daughter in one of my updates...she sent me an e-mail asking for "Details, honey!!" I filled her in on my adoption journey and then sent me an e-mail that shockingly stated that she was just finishing her home study and working on her dossier to adopt an infant from....ETHIOPIA!!!
This week my friend leaves to go pick up her gorgeous new son.
And while it may not seem too big to anyone else...I still stand in awe that three women from three seperate towns attended a small liberal arts school with 700 people, pledged the same floundering sorority and years later would follow the same path to motherhood by traveling to a land far, far away! I further stand amazed that through all of this God is not surprised...He knew when we met (before we met) what paths our lives would take and how that young, crazy friendship would someday grow even thicker roots of support and encouragement just when we needed it most.
So safe travels my friend! You're going to love Ethiopia! And your new baby boy is going to love you!
However they didn't return for the sophomore year and so they were absent during my last year of college. We lost touch with them, but I often fondly thought of the twosome.
Years later, one of these friends re-entered the canvas of my life. She had gotten married and was living in Hawaii. It was a hoot. Sadly we lost touch again but through facebook reconnect last year. I was still waiting for a court date and had mentioned a daughter in one of my updates...she sent me an e-mail asking for "Details, honey!!" I filled her in on my adoption journey and then sent me an e-mail that shockingly stated that she was just finishing her home study and working on her dossier to adopt an infant from....ETHIOPIA!!!
This week my friend leaves to go pick up her gorgeous new son.
And while it may not seem too big to anyone else...I still stand in awe that three women from three seperate towns attended a small liberal arts school with 700 people, pledged the same floundering sorority and years later would follow the same path to motherhood by traveling to a land far, far away! I further stand amazed that through all of this God is not surprised...He knew when we met (before we met) what paths our lives would take and how that young, crazy friendship would someday grow even thicker roots of support and encouragement just when we needed it most.
So safe travels my friend! You're going to love Ethiopia! And your new baby boy is going to love you!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Basket Ball
Basketball season ended last week, so I wanted to post a few photos of Jacinda's first season. She really loved playing it and while I am not thrilled with the level of instruction that was given in her "instructional league." So I have some plans to get her into a program that can better "teach" her. And while I may be partial, I think she is going to be a force to be reckoned with on the court. She's got height and speed and isn't afraid to go in for those rebounds! I am one proud momma!
Monday, March 1, 2010
40 Things to Do Before I am 40
I turned 39 a few weeks ago...it was my first birthday as a mommy. And it was a lot of fun being greeted that morning with a rendition of Happy Birthday to You that warmed my heart! As with every birthday I do a little self-reflecting and this year was no different. Unlike a lot of people I am a BIG FAN of birthdays. I believe they should be celebrated and that you should be able...no should want to...celebrate who you are on those days! And so on Feb. 20th I decided that I am pleased as punch with who I am, where my life has taken me and the path I am traveling.
And since I am love LISTS as much as birthdays, I decided it would be tons of fun to come up with a list of things I want to do before next year - separated into subsections, of course! And before you get the wrong impression...this is no way, shape or form a bucket list!
And I am also going to commit to update my progress on the 20th of every month, leading all the way up to Feb. 20, 2011 - my 40th! So here it goes!
40 THINGS TO DO BEFORE I'M 40
Activities
1. Take Jacinda Camping
2. Go away for a Girls weekend with my friends Sherry and Nikki
3. Take Jacinda on a tour of the Tygart Dam
4. Get some friends together and go Christmas Caroling
5. Have a yard sale
6. Enter a contest
7. Take a fall driving tour to go leaf peaking
8. Fly a kite
9. Discover/Experience four new places/events in WV
10. Try Letterboxing
Reading
11. Read the Bible in chronological order
12. Read at least 6 of the parenting/adoption books sitting on my book shelf
13. Read more in front of and to Jacinda (at least two times a week)
14. Read at least 6 books for pleasure
Artistically speaking
15. Take an Art class/workshop
16. Attend at least 6 live theater performances
17. Attend at least 3 concerts
18. Blog at least 10 times a month (I know a stretch for me!)
In the Kitchen
19. Try two new recipes a month
20. Organize my spices into some kind of usable system
21. Come up with a new storage system for my canned goods
22. Come up with a cost-effective, creative solution for a simple/striking counter top/back splash
Better Home & Garden
23. Plant some flowers
24. Create the playroom
25. Fix that pesky leak
26. Get bathroom lights, towel rack, etc. up
27. Add more lighting
28. Get the garage organized
29. Add French doors and a patio
30. Design my dream bathroom and dressing room for when the time comes
Personal Growth & Development
31. Be a better mom
32. Become a better daughter
33. Nurture my friends more
Health and Fitness
34. Lose 40 pounds – (should it be more? Of course, but this is a great place to start)
35. Learn to love some form of exercise (This is by far the hardest one on the list)
36. Eat no processed foods for one month out of the year
Ethiopian Experiences
37. Start attending the Ethiopian Adoption Group meetings in Pittsburgh
38. Expand my Amharic skills – add 40 new words to my repertoire
39. Do a fundraiser/drive for the children at Miskaye
40. And Last and by no means least…BEGIN PAPERCHASING FOR LITTLE J!!!
And since I am love LISTS as much as birthdays, I decided it would be tons of fun to come up with a list of things I want to do before next year - separated into subsections, of course! And before you get the wrong impression...this is no way, shape or form a bucket list!
And I am also going to commit to update my progress on the 20th of every month, leading all the way up to Feb. 20, 2011 - my 40th! So here it goes!
40 THINGS TO DO BEFORE I'M 40
Activities
1. Take Jacinda Camping
2. Go away for a Girls weekend with my friends Sherry and Nikki
3. Take Jacinda on a tour of the Tygart Dam
4. Get some friends together and go Christmas Caroling
5. Have a yard sale
6. Enter a contest
7. Take a fall driving tour to go leaf peaking
8. Fly a kite
9. Discover/Experience four new places/events in WV
10. Try Letterboxing
Reading
11. Read the Bible in chronological order
12. Read at least 6 of the parenting/adoption books sitting on my book shelf
13. Read more in front of and to Jacinda (at least two times a week)
14. Read at least 6 books for pleasure
Artistically speaking
15. Take an Art class/workshop
16. Attend at least 6 live theater performances
17. Attend at least 3 concerts
18. Blog at least 10 times a month (I know a stretch for me!)
In the Kitchen
19. Try two new recipes a month
20. Organize my spices into some kind of usable system
21. Come up with a new storage system for my canned goods
22. Come up with a cost-effective, creative solution for a simple/striking counter top/back splash
Better Home & Garden
23. Plant some flowers
24. Create the playroom
25. Fix that pesky leak
26. Get bathroom lights, towel rack, etc. up
27. Add more lighting
28. Get the garage organized
29. Add French doors and a patio
30. Design my dream bathroom and dressing room for when the time comes
Personal Growth & Development
31. Be a better mom
32. Become a better daughter
33. Nurture my friends more
Health and Fitness
34. Lose 40 pounds – (should it be more? Of course, but this is a great place to start)
35. Learn to love some form of exercise (This is by far the hardest one on the list)
36. Eat no processed foods for one month out of the year
Ethiopian Experiences
37. Start attending the Ethiopian Adoption Group meetings in Pittsburgh
38. Expand my Amharic skills – add 40 new words to my repertoire
39. Do a fundraiser/drive for the children at Miskaye
40. And Last and by no means least…BEGIN PAPERCHASING FOR LITTLE J!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
