The longing for love and the search for Knowledge

"Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of [humankind]."
---Benjamin Jowett

We attended an adoption workshop at Vanderbilt's Children's Hospital this past Saturday. I really enjoyed the speakers and found the information very interesting. We attended a class at CHI back in August (I think it was August) and we have another class at CHI we are attending in October. We have also completed the Because They Waited series and read Adoption Parenting. Richard and I want to attend as many workshops and classes as we possibly can. I don't think there is such a thing as being too prepared. Gosh, let me tell you I was not as eager about 'learning as much as I can' in school. I guess when the subject is something you feel so strongly about and it will personaly affect you in such a big way, you want to do all you can to gain as much knowledge as you can.




Another bonus about going to these classes are the great people you meet. We met a couple from Knoxville, Michelle and Eric who are also adopting from CHI. They are adopting from the Russia program. I also met a very nice man named Jerry who is adopting a son from VN. He is also going thru CHI. He had recently received a referral for a beautiful 4 year old boy. He was so proud to show his referral picture. He is anxiously awaiting a travel date.

Okay, it seems not even a threat of extended wait times will keep me from shopping for our little Sam! I just can't help it! I really can't!! I can't remember the last time I bought myself something. I would rather put that money towards all the cute things I can buy for Sam. Some people may think it is a bit premature, but the bottom line is it makes me happy and puts a smile on my face. So, I will continue to shop for little boy clothes. I am thinking ahead though only buying things that are 12-18 months. So at least I know they are things that if they don't fit, he will grow into.





Tomorrow starts another work week. I have to say I love my job and the people I work with, but I never look forward to going back to work!! The weekends are just too, too short!! Oh, tomorrow also starts my hard core diet :( Another thing I am not really looking forward to. But since healing from my foot injury I haven't been able to find the motivation to work out like I have always done and to make the best choices when it comes to food. I used to work out at least 5 days a week for at least an hour a day. I have done this for years, but I simply have just not felt the drive. Oh, and the food situation is out of control. So, tomorrow is the day. I plan to get up at 6:00 am to work out. If I can get on a daily work out routine, the healthy eating will fall into place more easialy. Wish me luck!

I hope everyone has had a great weekend and has a great week to come!!

10 years ago

Wow. I can't believe it was 10 years ago that I graduated high school. Crazy.



This weekend was our reunion. It was fun to see people that I went to school with so many years ago. Everyone looked great. My close friend Amanda did most of the work pulling the reunion together and she did a really, really good job. It was a great turn out and a successful event.


I haven't written about the news from our agency regarding the extended wait times. I am going to be completely honest and say I did not deal with that news very well. I was very upset and in tears for a day or two. I know everything happens at the right time and in the end it will all work out and bla, bla, bla, but at this moment I want Baby Sam and seeing the silver lining isn't easy. I also know that there are so many families who feel the same way I feel and are just as desperate to bring their child home. I just can't come here and write and pretend that I am not devastated by the extended wait times. One big fear I have with the VN program being so overly taxed is I worry about stability of the program. It's just that so many things can happen and change in two years. It's scary. I do have to say that I feel very secure knowing that we signed with CHI. They have always been very honest and fair. I would be a little more worried if we were with another agency.

It's been hard and disappointing the past couple of weeks, but I know that one day we will bring our little Sammy home.

100 Days...

And counting...

The end of a long weekend.

Don't you love long weekends? I mean just the one extra day off really seems to make a difference. 3 days off is like heaven. And even though we did have an extra day off and even though this is going to be a short week...I DO NOT want to go to work tomorrow. Urgh. I hate when weekends come to an end. Long or short.

Okay. Enough complaining. We had a great weekend! We finished Sam's crib! Let me just say I am pretty proud of how it turned out. It was much, much more difficult than painting the dresser and it took 2 whole days to finish. We had fun, though. Hummm, what can we paint next? ;)

Okay-So I wanted to take a picture of Richard and I to capture the excitement we had about finishing the baby's crib. It turned out to be just a really goofy picture =-)
This is after one side had been primed.
And this is Richard setting up the crib in our dining room.
And here it is all finished! I really do love it! Right now it sits in my dining room. My mom is coming in town on Friday so I will leave it up for her to see and then the next week Rich can take it down so we can put it in storage. Our lease is up early next summer so we are moving into a three bedroom. Yay! Right now the two bedroom is perfect, but it will be exciting to finally have a nursery!!

The bedding is the bedding they gave me when I bought the crib. It looked beautiful on the maple but I didn't think it would look very good on the black. I have to say I am surprised. It looks much better on the black crib than I expected it to. What do you think? Are the colors too neutral for a black crib?? I am still on the look out for bedding that I love. I haven't found anything yet. Luckily (or un-luckily) I have time.

This is what our Saturday night revolved aroundUT Football. Richard is a HUGE UT fan. I mean HUGE fan. He was not happy about the outcome. Oh well, we always have Memphis basketball.

Okay, I am going to try and psych myself up for the start of another work week. At least it is only a four day week and my mom will be here Friday so I have that to look forward to.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!!!