Tuesday, January 30, 2007
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
Even thou Aislinn will be the first time that Andrew and I become parents we have years of practice. From our 8 nieces and nephews (ages 20 to 2), to our goddaughter and her twin sister (7) to the 11 kids that I have taken care of over the last 16 years. These 11 kids break down to 4 families. My day to day is with 3 of these kids (4, 20 months & 14months) One family is a night thing or if they want to take a mini vacation by themselves. (without 5 kids ages 14 to 5) and the last three (ages 16, 13 & 10) I get once a week. That’s our night to do what ever (dinner, shopping, movies or just hanging out) and they hold a very special place in our hearts. Aislinn will be very lucky to have these three in her life. I know Micheala (16) will teach my child how to speak her mind and stand up for herself, what jokes to play on people and get away with it, and how to make awesome deserts.
Rachael will teach her fashion and style, what’s in and what not, and she will be a big sister to Aislinn in every sense of the word.
Connor will teach her about sports (soccer, basketball how to ride a skateboard) and how to beat all the levels on any video game. The following letter was written by Rachael for our social worker. It won’t make it into our dossier but it is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
To whom it may concern, June 4, 2006
My name is Rachael and I am 12 years old. I have known Donna and Andrew for my whole life. I am very close to both of them. Donna started babysitting my older sister (who is now16) when she was first born. She also baby-sits me and my brother who is now 10 years old. Donna and I have become very close over the last seven or eight years. I enjoy spending time with her. She is like my second mother and Andrew is like my second father. I go to their house almost every weekend and I see Donna every Thursday because she baby-sits my brother Conner, my sister Micheala, and me.
Even though my brother and sister may not be as close to Donna and Andrew but I am, and I know that they would be awesome parents. They have plenty of experience in their life of taking care of children. I feel that they are fully prepared for the responsibility of a child. I love them both to death and if it took one thing to make them happy this would be it. They have both worked so hard for this. I know that other people have worked just as hard but they really deserve this!
We do many things together. We shop; we visit her relatives in Maryland and upstate. She comes to our sporting events and school activities. We also go camping together, its lots of fun! If Donna and Andrew were to get approved they said I would be able to go with them to China but they probably will be going during the school year so I would not be able to go with them to get the baby. I really think that Aislinn Maraha will have the kind of relationship with her parents that I have with them now. Aislinn will also have me to help her grow and show her new things! I really think that Donna and Andrew have the energy and the responsibility to raise a child. Also to bring an child into this world, to grow and to care for with their strong love!
Sincerely,
Rachael
AS ALWAYS BE GOOD AND BE SAFE
Labels: Adoption
| posted by Unknown at 8:49 AM
Thursday, January 25, 2007
One of my greatest childhood memories is what my dad did for my birthday each year. I was born in Manhattan, New York and every year my dad retold the story of my birth- day. It started with
"It was a cold,cold, cold day"He would then go on to tell me how my mother stayed at her parent apartment on 2nd Ave in Manhattan and he was at home in Woodside Queens when he got "the call" to say my mom was going into the hospital. Now this is where his story always got embellished.... He had to walk ( no cabs running and he didnt have a car, you dont need one in New York City) in a snowstorm (one year it was rain,the next hail, then wind) 20 blocks uphill both ways to get to the hospital to find out what his wife had. This tale was told to me in the wee hours of the morning (4:30AM) before he would go to work while it was still dark out.He would make us both a bowl of oatmeal as he spoke and we would enjoy breakfast, just the two of us. I enjoyed those moments with my dad and treasure the memories. I am so looking forward to making memories and treasured moments with my child.
As Always Be Good & Be Safe
Labels: family
| posted by Unknown at 10:48 PM
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I OWE MY PARENTS !!
1. My parents taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE
.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I
just finished cleaning."
2. My parents taught me RELIGION .
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My parents taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you
into the middle of next week!"
4. My parents taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's why."
5. My parents taught me MORE LOGIC
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck,
you're not going to the store with me."
6. My parents taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in
an accident."
7. My parents taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry
about."
8. My parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONIST.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My parents taught me about WEATHER .
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through
it."
12 My parents taught me about HYPOCRISY .
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times.
Don't exaggerate!"
13. My parents taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you
out!"
14. My parents taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
"Stop acting like your father!"
15. My parents taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this
world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My parents taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."
17. My parents taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My parents taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going
to freeze that way."
19. My parents taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when
you're cold?"
20. My parents taught me HUMOR .
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come
running to me."
21. My parents taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow
up."
22. My parents taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."
23. My parents taught me about my ROOTS .
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born
in a barn?"
24. My parents taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. My parents taught me about JUSTICE .
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out
just like you !"
I received these gems from a email I got (thanks Uncle Bill), I just had to passed them on. I could hear my parents voice stating each and every one of them. I hope you laughed as much as I did.
As Always Be Good and Be Safe
| posted by Unknown at 6:44 PM
Sunday, January 21, 2007
THE OLE GRAY MARE
One of the little things that brings me joy (besides all the kids in my life) in needling my Mother in law (MIL) about her age. This is a woman who has never looked her age and is more active then most people at half her age. On Saturday we had the honor of celebrating her 70th birthday with about 80 family and friends at a surprise party.
As the RSVP’s were coming in the same sentiment was being stated over and over again.” No way would I miss this” “Of course we will be there” “She cant be that old” Andrew and I forgot her birthday on Thursday (1-18) ( not really we were focused on the party Saturday)and when I got home from work at 8:50 and Andrew at 9pm there was a message on the phone to remind us that we forgot! We called her and I of course started to sing “ the old gray mare she ain't what she use to be” (thank god she has a sense of humor)
The party was a great success. Good food, good fun and family! What more could you ask for?(besides my adoption to go faster)Here are a few photos from the event!
AS ALWAYS BE GOOD AND BE SAFE
Labels: family
| posted by Unknown at 9:42 PM
THE NIGHT MY LIFE CHANGEDFour years ago tonight @ a little after 11pm I received a phone called that changed my life. A golden heart stopped beating and with it, my childhood ended. After nine weeks of being in three different hospitals and two nursing home,
MY DADthe man who was my childhood hero, my first love, the man who I measured all other men against, heart finally gave out and he slipped quietly into the night. Durning those nine weeks I saw him every day with the exception of two days, and the last 2 weeks of his life I was with him every second that the hospital would allow me only leaving for bathroom breaks or when they would make me leave at the end of the night. Some nights I got to stay till 11pm (once I got kicked out @ 8pm,and I complained the next day to the hospital, at this point we knew he wasn’t going to make it and I hated to leave him. The morning of the 21st as my mom and I was driving to the hospital I asked her, HOW? How does someone carry on when they lose such an important part of their life? Her answer was
"You just do, one step at a time, moment by moment"So that’s what I did, I took it moment by moment, one step at a time and on my 40th birthday we buried my dad. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t miss him and wish that he were here. Tonight the 10 of us (Andrew, myself, my mom, Kerri & Pete, Jamie, Mike and their 3 kids) went out to dinner to celebrate his life and to have a drink in his honor.
I miss you Dad.
AS ALWAYS BE GOOD AND BE SAFE
| posted by Unknown at 9:29 PM
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
DO I DARE HOPE???
Every once in awhile it is nice to have a day off and do nothing! Stay in PJs, and just veg.No work, no kids, no house cleaning (even though it needs it and the inlaws are coming this weekend for my MILs surprise party),no dinner to make (bowling nite for DH) just make a pot of coffee, catch up on emails and just relax. I was checking my emails and banking accounts when I noticed the USCIS had cashed my check on the 10th. Does this mean that the appointment for our fingerprints is soon? Our mail came about 2pm today and even though I wasn't dressed my curiosity got the better of me. As I opened the mail box, the first thing I see is a THICK WHITE ENVELOPE with the return address of HOMELAND SECURITY!
So there I am in my PJs doing my HAPPY DANCE(Not a pretty site) the neighbors must of thought I was nuts. SO......Next Wednesday @ 8AM the 4 of us (Andrew, my mom, Kerri Ann and myself) have a date with the USCIS. I am hoping for a quick turn around and that we get our I 171H so our Dossier can be in China before the new deadline.
Wish us luck!!!!!!!!!
As Always Be Good and Be Safe
Labels: Adoption
| posted by Unknown at 3:43 PM
Thursday, January 04, 2007
HOW STUPID CAN I BE? Don't answer that! Yesterday afternoon as I was leaving for a Doctors appointment (yes finally after not feeling well for weeks I was going) the mail was in the box. I grabbed it as I was going to the car and took a quick peek thru it. When what catches my eye but a letter from the Department of Homeland Security!So right awhile I'm like YES!!!! Doing the happy dance thinking that in this envelope is the appointment for our fingerprints from the USCIS. We mailed our applicants out on December 21 and USCIS received it on the 22nd. But when I opened the envelope it wasn't our fingerprint appointment but my check returned for........
NOT SIGNING IT
So after a half hour of calling myself every name in the book (and some I used twice) I made a phone call to a lovely woman by the name of Teresa who is helping me with the last of our paperchasing, I singed the check, wrote a cover letter to the USCIS and went to the post office (Thank God the post office in the next town over is open to 7pm) I Expressed mailed it to them and they received it at noon today.` Owell live and learn. I pray nothing else ( but I know my luck LOL) will delay us.
AS ALWAYS BE GOOD AND BE SAFE
Labels: Adoption
| posted by Unknown at 3:03 PM
