Summer endings and new beginnings

We returned home today from a really great getaway vacation. Yesterday we went to Freeport, Maine , for a little outlet shopping. When we lived there so long ago,it was just LL bean and a few other stores. Now it is like a giant shopping area. We even managed to buy some clothing for "Paige" in the Children's Store Outlet for the unbelievable price of 99 cents. Yes I said 99 cents. We then drove down to Old Orchard Beach which has an old time Pier and amusement park. I had a palm reading..I know I couldn't resist. She said I would live until over 80 years old...would be very successful, and would have 3 children. Now how did she know I would have 3 kids???That was fun, then we ate dough boys(I worked out twice while there), shopped for tee shirts and played in the arcade. It was a lot of fun.
Today we went to Kennenbunk Port briefly as we traveled home. Wow!! the houses there are spectatcular. Wouldn't mind retiring there some day.

Then when we got home, we had to start getting the car packed for the big day tomorrow. Yes, my "baby" goes to college. He has been really giving us a hard time due to the fact that his girlfriend doesn't go there, but I also think he is extremely nervous about the whole ordeal. He will be living in the city and even though he loves the city and works there now, living there is very different.

It did finally hit me though as I watched him packing up things from his room I did cry and he got very moody. I hope that tomorrow goes well when we move him into his dorm. There is no word to describe this feeling. It is a whole mixture of thoughts and feelings. I am nervous and yet excited for him, sad yet happy, all mixed together. I will post after the fact and let you all know how this goes.

WE LOVE MAINE

We lived in Maine over 24 years ago when John was in the Navy. We loved it back then and would have stayed if a job opportunity for John came up. It has taken us this long to come back to this great state. We only have a few days, but so far we are having a great time. A lot has changed, our memories have dimmed of familiar things. We couldnt locate a really great restauarant that we once loved...we couldn't find the street that I once worked on. We couldn't find Bath Iron Works in Portland where John's ship was drydocked and later found out that was because they are no longer in business in Portland. We did drive through our old apartment complex.. too funny to see where we once lived.

Today we spent the day down in Portland. We went on a whale watching cruise all day. It was incredible. We saw Minke and Finback whales. It was a beautiful day, and we saw over 20 whales. Some came right up to the boat. We learned about the "footprint" whales leave in the water, and we learned that they do a "Kick dive" where they arch their backs and go back under. We learned that sometimes they log, or just hang out on top of the water sunning or sleeping. It was really incredible, and the boys were riveted by the whole thing. After that we walked all over the city, and rediscovered the cobblestone areas that had some funky shops and eateries. Portland is definately not a "rich" city and it looked a little more run down from what we remembered.. but it also looked like they were rebuilding in many areas. We ate at a really great seafood reastaurant that a lot of the locals seemed to eat at. We ate outside and of course I had LOBSTER. Tomorrow we plan on going out to Freeport (home of llbean and others) and then shoot south again to revisit Old Orchard Beach. Enjoy the picts of our day.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

26years

Today is our aniversary. 26 years. I can not believe this. All these years and it has really gone very fast. We got married young, but we are so connected not only in hearts but in our souls as well. We celebrated with a great Italian dinner at our favorite restaurant on the LI sound. Coleton came with us... after all he loves to eat and it is his favorite restaurant too. We all had a very nice time.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HONEY!!!!

The bedding

I had to do something after I heard the good news about being able to move forward with our adoption. I had been looking for months for just the right bedding. At first I thought I wanted Paisley, but I was unable to find one that I loved, and was affordable. I finally located a set that I loved here. I like the 2 different patterns/fabrics in the bed skirt a lot. So for now I have only ordered the bedskirt.
So we have a start. Then we will move on to wall paint, carpet, curtains, funiture etc.

Secret Buddy

I really do have a great secret buddy. This month's theme was DRESS ME UP. She sent a hand made jumper dress with cute little fairy buttons on it. THANKS secret buddy. I think Paige will look adorable in it!!

Taiwan and the Olympics

Since I am researching Taiwan as part of my service plan, I thought it was fitting to include a little segment on why the flag is different and the name is not Taiwan but rather Chinese-Taipei.


and this from the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC).

The COC representatives reaffirmed the basic principle at the meeting: There is only one China in the world, and that is the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. Based on this principle, the IOC should recognize only one NOC for China, and that is the Chinese Olympic Committee with its headquarters in Beijing and representing the amateur athletes of the whole country.

However, in consideration of the actual situation in Taiwan and in order that the athletes there would have the opportunity to take part in international competitions, the COC agreed that the sports organization in Taiwan might stay in the IOC, on condition that it would not attach “Republic of China” to its name, nor use the appellation of “Taiwan” independently. Nor would it be allowed to use its “national flag” and “national anthem” and anything symbolic of the “Republic of China.”

The last weeks are here already.

I can not believe that we are in the last two weeks of school vacation.

There is so much going on I will just bullet it here.

***Finishing up college shopping for my big guy...yes college.

***TRying to plan at least a few days away????

***FInishing up service plan for our agency.

*** Went into work today for 1st grade orientation.

***Need to go into work one day next week for room decorating and organizing

***Drive Kyle to school..(I'll post more at another time)

***School shopping for Coleton...I always buy the kids clothes even though they can't wear them until October. (or should I say KID for now)
*** School physicals
*** Three nights of football practice for the little guy.
***Getting in as much sun as I can.

ROSES

I guess I didnt realize how stressed John was over the fiasco of the last few weeks of not knowing if we could finish the adoption or not. He was so sweet, and brought home roses that night we found out that we were approved and all was well.

APPROVED!!!

YEA!!!!! We got the email at 5:55 pm ET. Just as I was walking out the door to take Coleton to Football practice. Oh my God!!!! I can not even tell you how that felt. It is so very exciting to finally feel that this is actually going to happen. I called John who was on his way to a class this evening, and he couldn't even focus, he was so relieved and excited. Now, we can finish the long service plan they sent us. And I will be ordering the bedding that I absolutely fell in love with.

This should put us hopefully by October with a referral of our daughter. Then approximately 4-6 months after that we will travel to Taiwan to bring her home.

More good times with old friends

Our friends from Arizona came over to our house the other day. We haven't seen Ad and Kevin for a few years. I work with Donna, and our boys are the same age, so we do get to see each other often. I get to see Joe usually on the baseball or football fields. Our boys are within a year of each other and we live locally to one another. It is always so good to see everyone. You know the kind of friends that you are totally yourself with, that have know you forever and ever, and you have been through so many things with. In fact Kevin and I were in the same Kindergarten class.... It is almost 30 years since graduation and we are still all so comfortable with each other. Here's to good friends and good times.

Still no news but...

No.. I havent heard if we are approved to adopt yet. I am very anxious. There were 2 new referrals on Friday and another member put her adopton on hold..due to pregnancy. That would put us at about #6 on the wait list if we are approved.

We have been keeping busy this summer though. Very good friends of ours who moved to Arizona a few years back held a graduation party for their son. He is the same age as Kyle...We went there and of course saw others friends from my high school days.

It was funny because you will notice we took several of the same picture. We did because each of us did not like something about how we looked in each picture. So funny.... wonder if we would have done this 27 years ago... So you decide which picture you like best.

LUCKY NUMBER EIGHT

SO TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY..... I KNOW I DON'T LOOK A DAY OVER 25. HOPEFULLY THE SYMBOLISM OF THE DATE WILL BRING GOOD NEWS TODAY ABOUT OUR ADOPTION!!!!!


Why Is The Number 8 Considered Lucky In China? By: Water Tiger


For Chinese the number 8 is considered lucky just like the number 7 is considered lucky in the West. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Olympic games in China start on August 8, 2008 or 08/08/08. In China you have to pay extra to have the number 8 in your phone number or license plate. In addition, home and business owners like to have the number 8 in their address.

So, why is the number 8 considered lucky in the minds of Chinese people. The main reason has to do with the pronunciation of the word for the number 8 in China. It is pronounced "ba" and sounds like the word for prosperity which is pronounced "fa". Another reason why the number 8 could be considered lucky is because it is a perfect symmetrical shape. You can cut the number 8 in half vertically or horizontally, and both halves mirror themselves perfectly. Perfect symmetry lends itself to perfect balance. In Chinese Astrology, perfect balance is considered the ideal.

On the date 08/08/08 there is predicted to be a record number of weddings, even surpassing the number of weddings on 07/07/07. According to Chinese Astrology, the date 08/08/08 is in the year of the Rat, the month of the Monkey and the day of the Dragon. It just so happens that the Rat, Monkey and Dragon are in the same affinity group or trine. That means the three Chinese Zodiac animal signs are perfectly compatible with each other. Therefore, the date 08/08/08 will be especially lucky for Rats, Monkeys and Dragons.

Still waiting

Just wanted to drop a line to let everyone know we are still waiting for approval from our agency. We had to get a Dr. letter explaining the condition, and then we had to get another Dr. letter again explaining the condition again. WE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED!!!!Hopefully we will have the answer to whether we can continue our Taiwan adoption by the end of next week. Say some big time prayers for us because we are at the end of our rope.