Dear Alyzabeth

Poor dear sweet Alyzabeth. Little one, you just might want to hide under your bed after I share some of what is waiting for you on this side of the world. Alyzabeth or "Lizzy" as your mom calls you, I hope you are a forgiving child. I hope you have a sense of adventure. I pray you love a good nap. I hope you like depression glass. I hope you have a butt as tough as alligator hide. I hope you like tasting new foods. I pray you love living & playing on the water. I hope you like humid weather. I hope you like clothes that won't always match and shoes that aren't always tied. I pray you get along with Salty Dog. I hope you enjoy little road trips to nowhere. I hope you like the taste of fish. I pray you love your Great Gandmother's china. I hope you like finger tip rubs and toes lightly tickled. I pray you love Sunday School. I hope you like finding stars at night. I hope you like cats that are sure to get in your lap. I hope you like riding in the backseat of cars. I pray you love family coming together for holidays. I hope you like kisses on the nose. I pray you love learning and music. I hope you like cousins and nieces and nephews who will push you down and then help you up. I pray you love Florida winters and Maine summers. I hope you like writing thank you notes. I hope you like your Grandmother's blueberry buckle. I hope you like reading. I pray you love Justin & Leaa. I hope you like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the St. Louis Cardinals and the University of Maine hockey. I hope you like challenges. I pray you love honesty. I hope you like homemade ice cream. I hope you like "live" theater. I hope you like being read bedtime stories. I pray you love giving more than receiving. I hope you like skiing at Steamboat. I hope you like movies that aren't scary. I hope you like growing fresh veggies. I hope you like pretty ribbons and things in your hair. I hope you like getting dirty. I pray you love taking baths. I hope you like riding a bike. I hope you like The Beatles. I hope you like practicing good manners. I pray you love older people. I hope you like tradition. I hope you like people who are different. I pray you love helping others. I hope you like making funny faces. I hope you like cooking with dad and baking with mom. I hope you like being you. I pray you love your birth mother & father. Oh, poor dear sweet Alyzabeth. Little one, We are full of hopes and love for you. We pray you love God. We pray you love mom and dad. We pray you love this country of ours. We pray you love being our daughter. We pray all this and so much more. And mostly we pray with each passing day God's speed to bring you home to us...

Name That Movie Revealed

Good Will Hunting Sean (Robin Williams) and Will (Matt Damon) are sitting together on a park bench. Will doesn't look at him throughout the speech; he looks away. The scene ends with Sean's walking away, leaving Will there, contemplating Sean's words.) Will (Matt Damon): So what's this? A Taster's Choice moment between guys? This is really nice. You got a thing for swans? Is this like a fetish? It's something, like, maybe we need to devote some time to? Sean (Robin Williams): I thought about what you said to me the other day, about my painting. Stayed up half the night thinking about it. Something occurred to me and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep and haven't thought about you since. You know what occurred to me? Will: No. Sean: You're just a kid. You don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about. Will: Why, thank you. Sean: It's all right. You've never been out of Boston? Will: Nope. Sean: So if I asked you about art you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written...Michelangelo? You know a lot about him. Life's work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientation, the whole works, right? But I bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You've never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling. Seen that.....If I asked you about women you'd probably give me a syllabus of your personal favorites. You may have even been laid a few times. But you can't tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy. You're a tough kid. I ask you about war, and you'd probably--uh--throw Shakespeare at me, right? "Once more into the breach, dear friends." But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap and watched him gasp his last breath, looking to you for help. And if I asked you about love you'd probably quote me a sonnet. But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone could level you with her eyes. Feeling like! God put an angel on earth just for you...who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn't know what it’s like to be her angel and to have that love for her to be there forever. Through anything. Through cancer. You wouldn't know about sleeping sittin’ up in a hospital room for two months holding her hand because the doctors could see in your eyes that the term visiting hours don't apply to you. You don't know about real loss, because that only occurs when you love something more than you love yourself. I doubt you've ever dared to love anybody that much. I look at you; I don't see an intelligent, confident man; I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you're a genius, Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine and you ripped my f*****' life apart. You're an orphan right? (Will nods) Do you think I'd know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally, I don't give a s*** about all that, because you know what? I can't learn anything from you I can't read in some f*****' book. Unless you wanna talk about you, who you are. And I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't wanna do that, do you, sport? You're terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief. (Sean stands and walks away.)

Family In China Now

The Nance Family is in China right now and will soon be bringing their daughter home. They have some great pictures and a video we think you will enjoy. Check them out...

Name That Movie

Memorable Movie Lines! Can You Name That Movie? "And if I asked you about love you'd probably quote me a sonnet. But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone who could level you with her eyes. Feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you...who could rescue you from the depths of hell." Was it? A: The English Patient B: Good Will Hunting C: Cruel Intentions

Slowly putting things back together

As you may know, we live in Florida and the past couple of years have been a tad bit unruly on the hurricane front. For the most part we were one of the fortunate ones. Our damage was "manageable" in that our home escaped all but the slightest of damage. Oh, we lost power, had limbs and neighbor trees down and lost our gutters but compared to others we were blessed. Still, as each new storm hit we lost more and more of our dock. Eventually, the yard filled with dock debris washing in from our neighbors. However, the one who suffered the most from the hurricane after-effects was none other than our own Salty Dog. SD lost his backyard romp area following one of the hurricanes that washed the fencing away. Without a fence to keep SD in and the gators out (I'm not joking here), SD was confined to the screened in porch. Well, we are happy (and ashamed for taking so long) to announce that SD is once again the KING of his domain! The fence has been replaced and the pet door has not stopped flopping since we removed the stop. We still have not replace our boat. We used the insurance money to pay towards replacing the dock. Once we have saved the money we can start thinking about replacing the boat (That was Alyson you may have heard laughing just now). Oh well, all in due time. Which reminds me, I may need to test run the generator this weekend. You never know. You just never know... I do miss our boat. 24 hours before the next hurricane hit our insurance company called saying they were cutting us a check. Bottom Line: If the boat caused further damage to our property or anyone else we held the risk. It took 3 of us six hours to raise, flip and get the boat out of the water. I spent 5 of those hours in the water with the waves and wind growing stronger and stronger. The sad part is I still have that insurance company. It's not always that easy getting & keeping insurance in Florida. To my FIL: We saved the gate you made for us. We know that once you all get down here we will find the perfect place for it. We have to have a gate leading out to the dock walkway. Without one, Salty Dog would walk out a little ways and wait for the river tide to go out. Once he could see ground (make that MUD) off he would jump. What a pleasant surprise when I would get home from work only to be greeted by man's best friend happily wagging his tail while encased in mud from head to foot. Salty Dog is the man but I grew weary very quickly of having to give him a daily bath. We strung a rather crude bit of fencing to block his access to the dock. However, when my FIL came down in the spring he took his talents and tools and built us a proper fence. Now he became the man! I wish I had an ounce of the talent this man has to build and repair things, just an ounce! Just One. He's already replaced the lights and repowered our dock about a zillion times from previous storms. Alyson actually makes a "to do" list before they come down for a visit. Heck, I feel bad for them. I love visiting with them but it's like they work to stay with us! Then again, I guess with a SIL like me you do what you have to do for your daughter. My son can build & fix anything. I'd like to meet his father. It scares me knowing it couldn't have come from my gene pool... Here's the new fence. SD is so happy. I should post a picture of him flying out the pet door. I know the two cats he shared the porch with seem a little happier with him gone. Not that they didn't get along but I sense a greater joy in both of them. Now we just need to start fixing the yard were the erosion did a number on it. (BTW: Clicking on any of the pictures will make them pop up larger)

Name That Movie Revealed

When Harry Met Sally Sally (Meg Ryan): “Most women at one time or another have faked it”. Harry (Billy Crystal): “Well, they haven't faked it with me”. Sally: “How do you know”? Harry: “Because I know”. Sally: “Oh. Right. Thats right. I forgot. Youre a man”. Harry: “What was that supposed to mean”? Sally: “Nothing. Its just that all men are sure it never happened to them and all women at one time or other have done it so you do the math”. The film is best known for a scene with the two title characters having lunch. They are arguing about a man's ability to recognize when a woman is faking an orgasim (a largely improv scene expanded upon at the last moment when originally shooting). Sally claims men cannot tell the difference, and to prove her point, she vividly (but fully clothed) demonstrates the skill as other diners watch. The scene ends with Sally casually returning to her meal as a nearby patron, played by Reiner's mother, places her order: "I'll have what she's having." *Disclaimer: The above was cut & pasted from the internet. If I could properly do footnotes and not be so lazy I would. I don’t. Therefore I haven’t.

Name that movie!

Memorable Movie Lines! Can you pick the movie?

“I'll have what she's having”.

Name that movie…

A: CASABLANCA
B: WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
C: FUNNY GIRL

Buying Spree over the Weekend

I have still kept my promise of not buying anything for Lizzy yet: I have no clothes, no shoes, no pajamas, no “onesies”, no coats, no sweaters, absolutely nothing. I decided a while ago to wait until I have Lizzy's picture and statistics (you know - her weight, age, size etc.) before I purchase any clothing. So my energy is going towards working on her bedroom - it still looks like a guest room/library! I continue to gather “things” for Lizzy’s bedroom. I have not made any final decorating decisions. I am only collecting pink and brown items to try in the room until I get a sense of “this is it” revelation. So here are some recent pictures of “items” hanging around the room (Yes, I am still blaming my weekend without Ford and my shopping trip with Pam for my over-run on the budget this month). Thank goodness for Target’s return policy!! New pink items: Table lamp: I plan to use fabric paint and add brown polka dots. Bedding: new queen size hot pink coverlet, shams and sheet set, new brown pillowcases. Need to buy the matching brown sheet set if I decide to keep the pillowcases. New brown baskets for bookshelves: these are made of plastic; thought they would hold up better than real baskets/wicker. I only bought three until I decide if I like them. I will line each one with a pink stripe or floral fabric. Purchased cute pink tub to probably store toys or small items in. Bought two new frames: one hot pink and one “shabby chic” pink floral (matches the two rugs purchased at Target). Bought one framed print of a ladybug. My first lady bug!! If you look at the prior pictures of the bedroom (01/07/06) you will note that I have not given up on keeping the “hunting scene & dogs” lamps on either side of the bed!! I love them. What else do I need besides toys and Lizzy?

Okeechobee

I made a quick trip down to Okeechobee with son Justin and granddaughter Kilee to visit with my Dad & Joy over the weekend. The weather was absolutely fantastic. The citrus had mostly been picked but it was still a rush to see all the groves. I wish I had taken more photos! I especially wish I had taken one of Joy giving Kilee a sink bath! I can't believe I didn't get a picture of that. Justin pulled Kilee around in her wagon and we made a couple of golf cart journeys (the preferred method of transportation while there) to dispose of Miss Kilee's pampers :) Kilee loved the golf cart... It was a short but very nice visit. I'm glad Justin and Kilee made the trip with me. All the more special. We caught a break coming back through Daytona. The race was still in progress so the traffic was not so bad. You can see the track from the interstate and the people, the motor homes and blimps! You know they were having some kind of FUN! Still, it's nice to be home to my sweetie...

Weekend Blues #3

This will be the last of my blues series.... I am actually very cheerful so the unsettling news is providing me more fodder to contemplate about; If I should help or how I can help with family issues far away. Let me say that this will be brief as to air other family member's news on our blog is not our forte. Talking about ourselves is great fun but am not so sure other's want to see their name in print (they can start their own blog!). Our immediate family is all fine. DH visiting with his folks, son & Kelly and baby Kilee are all well; daughter and SIL are out of town visiting family and celebrating SIL's birthday, I am fine - yes, I got my Starbucks and went shopping with a friend who is the sweetest person but I may have to hold it against her that I bought way too much while shopping with her. I buy alot less when I shop alone! So we are doing fine amongst the usual worldly concerns. Here in Florida, I have a retired cousin and a "cousin-in-law". The CIL recently has had two surgeries and is recovering at their home. She has a long rehab schedule ahead of her and I know with her spirit of determination (and helpful cousin, her sister-in-law, coaching her) she will recover. My cousin is waiting to schedule her needed surgery in the next month or two, so that is up next. My family in Maine has some issues. My Mom has been sick with a major cold/sinus infections/breathing difficulties for about two weeks. She did go to the doctor and has some meds that are allowing her to get better. Hopefully she will be well soon. My M&D are due to drive here for their spring vacation next month. I have two sisters, my "baby" sister has had some health issues for a while now and to hopefully conclude this, she has surgery scheduled in about two weeks. We pray that all goes well and her recovery is speedy. Her son is entering adulthood, with first car (a very old, used Pathfinder) and we know he will stay out of trouble (even his license plate has "NP" on it - we figure it means "No problems"). My older sister has a daughter who is struggling with work, personal decisions and college. Things are a little up in the air but she and her boyfriend have a plan and he has been recently accepted to re-enter college too. They are young and will figure it all out! I wish them success. The same sister's son has struggles relating to college. What is it with kids these days?? (oops, I think my parents said the same thing about us!!). We hope his plan will be to finish college and move forward. He is a hard worker so we know he will suceed! Maybe all this doesn't sound so bad in the big picture of world events but you know how family troubles are very big and real and I am many miles away from helping. A phone call is about all I can do and pray for all of them. We love them all and wish we could give them a hug!!

NASCAR Blues! #2

Now onto the next set of blues I have been dealing with this weekend!! I am REALLY going through racing withdrawals since Ricky Craven is not racing this year; last year may have been his last racing year (is retirement looming??), I don't know. He's the only NASCAR driver to come from Maine (as you know my beloved, best place on earth, I want to live there again!) and has no "ride" this year. From what I can tell from NASCAR, sponsors and fans: 1) unless you are a "young gun" which is the under 33 years old group (I had to bump up the age since everyone still thinks of Earnhardt Jr. as young....) or 2) a seasoned racing champion or 3) a driver who is an absolute wreck/menance to the other drivers on the track BUT can speak very well in front of a camera, quick answers on his feet, great sense of humor or just plain is fan friendly because he's goofy and controverial...... OK, so Ricky Craven isn't any of those. He had every opportunity when he was a young gun to make it "big" and he did not. Whatever was his destiny, he was in several wrecks and was out of racing in the late 90's due to post concussion syndrome. He did "re-prove" himself with a struggling new team (Tide sponsor) and won two races. He knew the team was going nowhere, so opted out. He then joined Roush Racing Craftsman truck team last year and had one win after alot of changes on the team allowing the rookie to have the best equipment and they even gave him Ricky's crew chief mid-way through the season - unheard of!! Now that same crew chief is Mark Martin's Craftsman truck team crew chief and they won the Friday night Daytona truck race!! Why isn't Ricky in a ride? He is very methodical when speaking to reporters, taking his time to give thoughtful answers; he has only two wins and he was a Rookie of the year back in 1995 (dark ages ago). To counteract Ricky's sporatic career, we chose two young drivers to cheer for - Jamie McMurray, many years ago when he was a rookie, - then four years ago chose Carl Edwards in his rookie year in the truck series. Both are from Missouri, my DH's home state. Back to Craven, Maine's population is so small, it just doesn't have the huge fan base needed to get Ricky back in the lime light. Where are the big sponsors like MBNA (whose headquarters are in Maine), L.L. Bean, BIW??; where are the large paper mills, timber land holders, tourist boards, snow mobile & snow blower manufacturers???, ski resorts and nature conservation companies???? Think of the publicity it would be for Maine.... So much for my racing blues..... Now I watch those great Missouri drivers win races and watch my DH gloat about his home state! That's Racing!

From "As we wait for Lily Kate..."

Kisses in the Wind I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams. You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems. I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long. But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong. Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin... Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you. I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do. Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend. But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight. And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night. --- Unknown I read this poem on http://www.waitforlilykate.blogspot.com/ I just love it and hope these wonderful words will keep me patient while we wait......

Saturday Morning Blues!! #1

I LOVE Saturday mornings! If all is quiet at work, our Saturday mornings at home are very lazy and enjoyable. We are usually up by 6:00 a.m. (Ford and Salty Dog sometimes get itchy feet and are up sooner to take the required stroll to get the newspaper), have coffee, read the newspaper and I start my very detailed "to do list" for the weekend. Now, this is not a last minute list. I keep a running list for weeks that has the "big picture". We have many items now on the BP list that involve getting ready for Lizzy (Ford says he will only call her Alyzabeth), sewing projects, non-critical errands, appointments besides the usual ironing, laundry, groceries and correspondence. The detailed list is "what shall we accomplish on Saturday & Sunday". I usually have twice as many things on the list that we could possibly get done, so left over items get put back on the BP list. So why is this morning so blue? My DH is out of town visiting with his folks (along with son, Justin and grand-baby Kilee) so I am here alone drinking coffee with Salty Dog. I didn't go on this visit as work has preocccupied me this weekend, mostly mentally; even though we normally have off President's Day on Monday but will go into work for the day. I need to find a new way to relieve stress and stay physically fit!! So I am surfing the web, printing daughter's baby registry lists for shopping later (the second grand-baby is on the way), checking the measurements for a project that needs to be price-guesstimated at Home Depot and hopefully have some fun - maybe I will treat myself to a Starbucks! Love you Ford!! Miss you!

Family Music Night

Be Proud was first released on Aerial Tribe's self titled CD Aerial Tribe. The soft vocals of Patrick Evan supported on bass by Jared May and our SIL Jesse Cruce on lead guitar will gingerly guide you along the path of personal celebration in witnessing truth. Where Peace is still considered honorable. Hope is still alive. And Love truly is the answer. You can call these guys dreamers, they really don't mind because they do dream and care and together share a vision for a better tomorrow. For everyone. Once again, welcome to tonight's family music offering Be Proud. Enjoy... Powered by Castpost

LID !!!

Dear Ford & Alyson, Great News! Your dossier has been logged in by the China Center of Adoption Affairs. Your official dossier log-in date (LID) is: 1/27/2006. If you have questions about the current child match referral timeline please feel free to e-mail childmatch2@chinesechildren.org. Congratulations from all of us at CCAI! This is the news we were waiting for!! We knew our dossier was received by China on January 16th (DTC) but having the logged in date (LID) is very important. We are now on the official "waiting" list. Yea!!

Chinese New Year as reported by Zoe

Click this link to view a local newscast covering our recent Chinese New Year's celebration here on the First Coast. I think you will agree that 7 year old Zoe turned in a sparkling performance as a "live on the scene" reporter!

Family Music Night

Tonight we feature our daughter Leaa with the Joni Mitchell tune, You Turn Me On I'm A Radio, released in 1972. Enjoy... provided Castpost doesn't get the hic-ups again!!! Powered by Castpost

Year of the Dog!

There were little ones everywhere. EVERYWHERE! We ventured out for our first ever Chinese New Year's celebration hosted by the First Coast Families with Chinese Children. The event was held at the Sawgrass Marriott at Ponte Vedra Beach. You simply could not take your eyes off the kids and the parents. The traditional dress by kids and parents (and grandparents) alike was indescribable. Simply fantastic. Our blogging buddies, Tom & Wendy, were each sporting traditional Chinese outfits as well and may I say they were looking good!

SafeGuard Your Kids!

We are not trying to be alarmist nor are we trying to scare anyone. Still, we've added the link, SafeGuard Your Kids! The website provides an easy to use interface that allows you to enter your address to check for any sexual predators or deviants living near you and your family. Information coupled with precaution is a good thing. Check it out...

Waiting Families

Last night we attended a meeting of the First Coast Families with Chinese Children. Actually, we attended a meeting of Waiting Families who will be "working" shifts at the kids craft table for tomorrow night's Chinese New Year gala event! Over 400 people are expected to attend the party and you can count on beautiful American daughters of Chinese ancestry running around EVERYWHERE. We will be taking our camera and snapping up tons of pictures that we will be sure to share with you. This is our first time attending though we have read accounts of the party in the Jacksonville Times-Union over the years. It promises to be a great time. Last night we got to meet many of the families who are either LID, DTC or somewhere in the Paperchase race. It was fun meeting folks who have or will be experiencing things in common associated with the International adoption process. We do want to give a special shout out to Wendy and Tom (Our China Miracle) and Kim (Ruby Is Coming). It was especially great meeting these fine people as we have them linked on our blog and have conversed through blogging though we had never met. Well, we have now! We are looking forward to seeing them at tomorrow night's party and meeting Kim's husband Joel. Below are a few pictures of what we did last night to get our "crafts" ready for the kids to finish putting together tomorrow night. Once completed, they will be fully functional and gaily decorated NOISE MAKERS!! Oh yeah, this may be a bit on the crazy side. Don't you know their parents are going to love us. Sort of like that popping lawnmower I bought my brother's kids years ago along with the finger paint. He still thanks me for that...

Gwen Blog Update

I'm sure Karen (Gwen Blog) wouldn't mind my sharing her great news... THE TRIAL: Got the call much sooner than I anticipated. But I've been accepted into the trial! YES!! This is fantastic news because the primary drug in the chemo cocktail isn't included in our insurance policy's formulary list. Which of course means we'd never be able to afford this form of treatment without the trial. All of my meds, my scans, my bloodwork, my everything is now 100% covered and free. Many prayers answered for sure...I begin my treatments on Friday, March 10th. My Mom has offered to come up and keep Gwen on days that I have chemo. What a relief...I still think it will be hard on Gwen but at least she will be here, in her own environment, and maybe that will help ease the transition. God I hope so. I'm such a worrier. Karen: Our prayers continue for you and your family. This is fantastic news!

5 Great Reasons

The First 5 of 10 Great Reasons To Be Adopted By Older Parents:

1. You get your inheritance years before your friends (minus burial expenses).


2. Your astronomical (teen) car insurance rates will be offset by our senior citizen discounts.


3. Because we’re too old to qualify for a second adoption you never have to share a bedroom.


4. The handicap parking sticker means you never have to walk far.


5. You get to play your music louder than your friends because we can’t hear it!

Program for Singles

I thought this might be of interest, especially for our “single” parents-to-be or those who might be considering adoption as a single parent… This information is from our agency, CCAI. January 19, 2006 Congratulations! Congratulations to all of our single applicants for the year 2006. We were able to approve 79 single applicants for our 2006 quota! Our program for singles for 2006 is officially closed and we look forward to serving our 2006 single families!