Nerd

Made another trip to Barnes & Noble today to get one book......and walked out with a couple extra. I am super pumped about the sign language books. Yes Melissa, you can steal these photos for your blog too. hehehe The photo with the "Z" bookmark is my inspiration and a clue to the name that I love right now. I also purchased the book, "Cross-Cultural Adoption" for my family members, they only had 2 at the store so I need to pick up one more, this is a great book that answers many questions that both children and adults may wonder and ask in a way that respects the adopted child and answers many curiousities. Some of the questions that kids ask that are answered in the book are: Where is she from? Why did they go all the way over there to adopt a child? Who are her 'real' parents? Why didn't her 'real' parents want her? Was she abandoned? Is she my 'real' cousin? Why does she look different? Why didn't they just have one of their own?

"As anyone who has spent time with a child knows, young children ask direct questions, want concrete answers, understand concepts in their literal meanings, and stop listening after their question is answered - which is usually in the first one or two sentences."

If you haven't yet read this book, it is a great read and well worth the $20. This is a great gift to buy your friends, family members, teachers and caregivers!

Getting Ready for the Weekend

I am pumped! This weekend is my official "Adoption Garage Sale," so needless to say this last week has been crazy with planning, sorting, pricing, picking up donations, etc. I can't wait! Tomorrow my sister is driving in with her husband and my nephews and Friday Suzanne, my adoption friend in CA, is flying in too! Yahoooo! I can't wait to hang out! Several of my other girlfriends are taking time out of their own lives to help me too. Thank you Angie, Sherree, Marla, Shannon, Liz, Jill & Linda, you guys all rock! Thank you also for the wonderful donations John & Nancy Haarstad (my favorite clients ever), Denny (my builder), Shirlee (my professional role model), Jill & Liz (great friends, volleyball teamates and past clients), Marla (great friend), Seth & Erin (neighbors and fellow adoptive parents), Sarah (wonderful office administrator), Sherree(greatest friend), Heidi (fellow in-process adoptive parent), Linda (friend and rockstar networker), Steve & Jeri (great friends - thanks for donating the hot dogs and buns) & my dearest nephews (thank you for making up the Monster Cookies and designing the custom Lemonade Stand sign, I can't wait to see it!)

Back to the Drawing Board

I am not sure if the real estate market is the same across the US, but here in MN it is definitely a buyer's market. At the beginning of my adoption process, my plan was to sell the cabin in a fair trade to finance my adoption. I thought that the worst case scenario was that I would walk away with enough money to finance the entire adoption, but yep, you guessed it, I was wrong! Back to the drawing board as the cabin sold, and I feel very thankful for that, but the funds are not what I had dreamed of. Ugh! Good thing there are additional options. Who would have ever guessed that a waterfront property would be so tough to sell. 3 years ago I could have sold the cabin in one week and my net profits would have been amazing, but as it stands, the sales price is what I paid for the cabin 3 years ago. Crazy! This photo was also taken at the cabin the day of the sale. Peace!

Now this is a Busy Mommy!

This Merganser had nearly 30 babies. Yikes! Just keep her in mind when you feel overwhelmed, at times, 2 of the babies were even riding on her back. :) This photo was taken at the lake home the day I sold!

2007 Shindig Group Photo

2007 Single Kaz Mom's Shindig

Just last weekend we had our annual 'Single Kaz Mom's Annual Shindig' and can you believe that this year it was in Minneapolis? Crazy Lucky for me! I was the only 'waiting mom' this year and there were about 10 other moms from around the US there as well w/ their little Kaz beauties! It was so amazing! We met at the motel on Friday night for a casual get-together, Pizza & pop, and to watch our video of the kids throughout this past year. Then on Saturday morning we met up at Minehaha Falls Park in Bloomington / Minneapolis for a picnic & tour of the Falls, it is amazing that I have lived here for 8 years and never toured the park! We then went to the Mall of America to 'Underwater World,' had supper at 'Bubba Gump Shrimp' and then played at the Park at the Mall of America. It was so wonderful to meet other single moms through international adoption and talk with them about their experiences during their adoptions, now at home with their babies and just life in general. Blessed!

Long Time no Post

Life has been so crazy this past month, and will continue into the month of July. This week, I took a needed break and came up to my cabin, a true retreat! We had a small 'Girl's Weekend' this past weekend, our 3rd Annual, and now I am just relaxing by myself, doing yard work, painting the cabin, and checking my 118 emails at the coffee shop. :)

I am still awaiting my I-171H from immigration, hopefully I will see that in the next month. I continue to garage sale for nearly new baby clothes and am finding some great finds. I had my blood drawn for my Life Insurance - who knew I had to do that. I plan to get a basic will started to back up my Guardianship for my little one. I continue to get ready for the adoption garage sale coming up very fast. Suzanne just booked her flight, room and car rental - Yahooooooo, and my sister and the boys are planning too. So far I believe that Angie has re-routed her crazy schedule to be there, Sherree sounds like she too is in as a helper, Marla, possibly Heidi, Liz, Jill, John, Sean ???? I will verify more this coming week and post several photos after our fun weekend! Many of my friends have already dropped off their things so the garage is quickly filling up! :) Fun!

Mom has officially sent in her paperwork for her passport and I believe my sister has as well, so we are on our way! I am hoping to still travel yet this year?????

I continue to read my adoption books and am always amazed at how much there is to know. Right now I am reading a book on attachment and have learned so much!

Next on my list is to get her bedroom ready and interview daycare places. Yikes!